WVON

Black women continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV, accounting for nearly 60% of new HIV infections in US women, despite making up less than 15% of the female population. Notably, although the rate of new infections among… Black women has decreased over time, the decline has plateaued in recent years. In addition, not all Black women with HIV are aware of their status, and too few are receiving the HIV care and treatment that will help them live longer, healthier lives.

Some very alarming statistics reveal population-level disparities within our social and health-care systems. One prominent example is the 30-year gap in life expectancy between people living in the poor, predominantly Black neighborhoods on Chicago’s South… Side, as compared to those in the more affluent, predominantly White neighborhoods. This is the largest life expectancy gap in the United States, according to the City Health Dashboard and is attributable to few economic opportunities and high rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke in South Side neighborhoods. The origins and ramifications of this wide difference in life expectancy are deeply systemically entrenched and must be acknowledged if we are to effectively close the gap.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women, as well as the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Once a patient is diagnosed, they are considered a ‘survivor.’ Survivorship begins at diagnosis… and continues during treatment and through a person’s life. Because cancer treatments and overall journeys are different for everyone, survivorship is one the most complicated parts of having cancer.

The teen brain is in the process of maturing. In general, it’s more focused on rewards and taking risks than the adult brain. At the same time, teenagers push parents for greater freedom as teens begin… to explore their personality. Teens who experiment with drugs and other substances put their health and safety at risk. Many factors can feed into teen drug use and misuse. It’s never too soon to start talking to your teen about drug abuse. The conversations you have today can help your teen make healthy choices in the future.

Stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. The Black community faces a higher incidence and mortality rate from strokes compared to other racial groups due to a variety of factors. Efforts to… address these disparities include public health initiatives and policy changes specifically tailored for the Black community.

Although rates of breastfeeding initiation in the United States have increased over time, rates of exclusive, sustained breastfeeding have remained low. This is especially true for infants of color and those from low-income households. Among children… born in 2018, 39.9% of African American infants were exclusively breastfed at 3 months and 19.8% were exclusively breastfed at 6 months. These suboptimal rates of breastfeeding have been associated with greater incidence of negative health outcomes for mothers and infants. A variety of factors influence a woman’s decision and ability to breastfeed. Recent evidence has suggested that intention of equity is necessary to help promote equitable implementation of breastfeeding support practices and reduce inequities in breastfeeding outcomes.

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women, as well as the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Once a patient is diagnosed, they are considered a ‘survivor.’ Survivorship begins at diagnosis… and continues during treatment and through a person’s life. Because cancer treatments and overall journeys are different for everyone, survivorship is one the most complicated parts of having cancer.

Social justice is a broad and evolving concept focused on creating a fair and just society and encompasses several key dimensions. Movements for social justice employ various strategies to achieve their goals. They also involve a… continuous effort to identify and dismantle systems of inequality and to build better and just structures for all. Regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious beliefs or nonbelief, or citizenship, all individuals have universal human rights that must be respected and protected.

The Wall Street Journal reports that overall Black household wealth for college graduates in their 30s has fallen to $8,200 from about $50,400 three decades ago—largely due to the negative impact of student debt required to finance… that education. Black and Latino or Hispanic parents are more likely than White parents to see a college degree as key for their children’s success, according to a 2015 Pew Research Center report. However, Black people’s strivings and educational gains are not rewarded on pace with their white peers, confirming the adage “you have to be twice and good to get the same result.”

A traumatic event is a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience that can affect someone emotionally and physically. The good news is that there are very effective ways to cope with and treat the stressful effects of… trauma. Not everyone requires treatment for traumatic stress. Most people recover on their own with time. However, mental health professionals can help you find healthy ways to cope in the aftermath of a traumatic event.

Prostate cancer takes a harsher toll on Black men than other men, including other men of color. In fact, Black men are 50% more likely to develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and twice as likely to… die from the disease. There are many factors that can increase the risk and worsen the outcome of prostate cancer — not just being of African descent. Disparities in outcomes also can be affected by differences in when the cancer is diagnosed and how the men are treated after diagnosis. Despite the increased risk of developing prostate cancer and dying from it, Black men are underrepresented in clinical trials that test new therapies.

Stroke is a major cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, including stroke. People with diabetes have a 1.5–2 times higher risk of stroke compared with people… without diabetes, with risk increasing with diabetes duration. Not everyone with diabetes will get a stroke, and there are steps you can take to make sure you’re one of them. People with diabetes can live long, healthy lives, free from heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.