Disparities related to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status pervade the American health care system and are seen both in the quality of health care and access to both preventive services and medical care.  The disparities also appear among many subpopulations, including women, children, the elderly, rural residents and the disabled.

According to the National Health Care Disparities Report for 2006:

• Blacks received poorer quality care than Whites for 73 percent of criteria measured. 
• Asians received poorer quality care than Whites for 32 percent of criteria measured. 
• Blacks and Asians had less access to care than Whites for a third of the measured factors. 
• American Indians and Alaska Natives received poorer quality care than Whites for about 41 percent of the factors and had less access to care for 17 percent of criteria measured.
• Hispanics received poorer quality care than non-Hispanic Whites for 77 percent of the factors and had less access to care for 83 percent of criteria measured.   
• The poor received lower quality care for 71 percent of measured factors and had less access for 100 percent of the criteria. 
• Some disparities in quality of care are improving for racial and ethnic minorities, but disparities for the poor appear to be getting worse.

Experts recommend that efforts to address disparities focus on community-based projects supported by detailed local data. States have created offices of minority health, passed legislation to make care more available and affordable, and encouraged efforts to recruit minority health personnel.  Policymakers have also explored the implementation of cultural competence training for health care professionals.  

Health Equity and Social Justice

NACCHO Exchange seeks to promote effective local public health practice. The winter 2008 issue, Health Equity and Social Justice, provides examples of ways that local health departments are working to improve public health outcomes in their communities. 

Find more CDC resources about efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.

This report was the first comprehensive effort to measure differences in access and use of health care services by various populations. Policymakers can use detailed local data provided in the NHDR as a guide for development of programs aimed at reducing disparities and as benchmarks against which to compare their progress. 

Key Health and Health Care Indicators by Race/Ethnicity and State

This data update from Kaiser Family Foundation shows variation across state and racial and ethnic groups for six key heath and health care indicators.

Resources From Partners

Our partners in the Healthy States Initiative, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), have provided useful information in understanding health disparities related to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status in the U.S. and its territories. Below are informative articles from each:

Articles from NHCSL

• "Chronic Disease and Elder Hispanics"
• "Folic Acid Equals Healthy Babies"
• "Hispanic Communities Face Unique Risks from Their Environment"
• "A Growing Concern: Latinas, HIV/AIDS and Other STDs"
• "Hispanic Youth Need a Healthy Pathway to Prevent Chronic Illness"

Articles from NBCSL

• "The Impact of Asthma on Vulnerable Populations"
• "Racial Disparities in HIV and STDs"