Black Family Health Seminar

Introduction

NAD/IAD Health Summitt-2009

Presented by Byron E. Conner MD

Purpose of This CoursePurpose of This Course

Improve the health of the Black familyImprove the health of the Black family

Reduce health disparitiesReduce health disparities

Enhance the ministry of the churchEnhance the ministry of the church

What are racial and ethnic What are racial and ethnic disparities in health?disparities in health?

““Health disparities are the differences in the Health disparities are the differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse burden of diseases and other adverse conditions that exist among population conditions that exist among population groups in the United States.” groups in the United States.”

Source: National Institutes of HealthSource: National Institutes of Health Groups affected: African Americans, Groups affected: African Americans,

Hispanic Americans, Asian/Pacific Hispanic Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indians/Alaska NativesIslanders, American Indians/Alaska Natives

Most Important Health Issues In The African Most Important Health Issues In The African American CommunityAmerican Community

Health DisparitiesHealth Disparities: Greater morbidity and : Greater morbidity and mortality for multiple conditionsmortality for multiple conditions

Lower life expectancyLower life expectancy: for African : for African AmericansAmericans

Excess deathsExcess deaths: Deaths that would not occur : Deaths that would not occur if the mortality rate was the same as White if the mortality rate was the same as White Americans (may be as much as 83,000 Americans (may be as much as 83,000 deaths each year)deaths each year)

Some Compelling Reasons To Do Some Compelling Reasons To Do Health MinistryHealth Ministry

We have a mandate from the Scriptures and from We have a mandate from the Scriptures and from the Spirit of Prophecy to do thisthe Spirit of Prophecy to do this

Churches can have a large impact on reducing Churches can have a large impact on reducing health disparities, as our health care system has health disparities, as our health care system has failed to do thisfailed to do this

The Adventist lifestyle has been proven to improve The Adventist lifestyle has been proven to improve the length and quality of lifethe length and quality of life

Regional churches are often located in our near Regional churches are often located in our near inner city and impoverished communitiesinner city and impoverished communities

The Biblical MandateThe Biblical Mandate

““And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness , and kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness , and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:234:23

““The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10abundantly.” John 10:10

The Biblical MandateThe Biblical Mandate

““And a certain man was there, which had an And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” John 5: 5&6made whole?” John 5: 5&6

““But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

A Prophetic MandateA Prophetic Mandate““I saw that it was a sacred duty I saw that it was a sacred duty

to attend to our health, and to attend to our health, and arouse others to their duty.”arouse others to their duty.”(The Great Visions of Ellen G. White, (The Great Visions of Ellen G. White, Page 93)Page 93)

““I was again shown that the I was again shown that the health reform is one branch health reform is one branch of the great work which is to of the great work which is to fit a people for the coming of fit a people for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely the Lord. It is as closely connected with the third connected with the third angel’s message as the hand angel’s message as the hand is with the body.”is with the body.”

Counsels on Diet and Foods, Counsels on Diet and Foods, Page 69Page 69

The Spirit of Prophecy MandateThe Spirit of Prophecy Mandate

““When properly conducted, the health When properly conducted, the health work is an entering wedge, making work is an entering wedge, making way for other truths to reach the way for other truths to reach the heart.” heart.”

Counsels on Diet and Foods, Counsels on Diet and Foods, Page 73Page 73

The Spirit of Prophecy The Spirit of Prophecy MandateMandate

True RemediesTrue Remedies““Pure air. sunlight, Pure air. sunlight,

abstemiousness, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, rest, exercise, proper diet, the proper diet, the use of water, use of water, trust in divine trust in divine power—these are power—these are the true the true remedies”remedies”

The Ministry of The Ministry of Healing, Healing, Page 127Page 127

NNUTRUTIONUTRUTIONEEXERCISEXERCISEWWATERATER

SSUNLIGHT UNLIGHT TTEMPERANCEEMPERANCEAAIRIRRRESTESTTTRUST IN GODRUST IN GOD

Ten Areas of Counsel From Ten Areas of Counsel From Ellen G. WhiteEllen G. White

Care of health is a religious dutyCare of health is a religious duty The cause of disease is a violation of The cause of disease is a violation of

health lawshealth laws Avoiding the negative impact of Avoiding the negative impact of

intemperanceintemperance VegetarianismVegetarianism Control of appetiteControl of appetite Natural remedies in healingNatural remedies in healing Control of the mindControl of the mind Personal cleanlinessPersonal cleanliness Environmental concernsEnvironmental concerns Health education by the churchHealth education by the church

The Historical MandateThe Historical Mandate

1985 report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black 1985 report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health: 60,000 excess deaths occur each and Minority Health: 60,000 excess deaths occur each year in minority populationsyear in minority populations

Healthy People 2010, Healthy People 2010, stated the elimination of health stated the elimination of health disparities as one of the nation’s most important goalsdisparities as one of the nation’s most important goals

In 2002, the Institute of Medicine reported that racial In 2002, the Institute of Medicine reported that racial biases and differences in the quality of health plans biases and differences in the quality of health plans were related to the fact that minorities receive worse were related to the fact that minorities receive worse health carehealth care

The Historical MandateThe Historical Mandate

Report from the American Journal of Public Report from the American Journal of Public Health, December 2004:Health, December 2004:

83,570 excess deaths each year could be 83,570 excess deaths each year could be prevented if the Black-White mortality gap prevented if the Black-White mortality gap were eliminatedwere eliminated

Eliminating the mortality gap would save Eliminating the mortality gap would save more lives than production of new drugs, more lives than production of new drugs, diagnostic tests, and surgical proceduresdiagnostic tests, and surgical procedures

The Challenges The Challenges Before usBefore us

Leading Causes of Death Leading Causes of Death in Americain America

1) Cardiovascular Diseases1) Cardiovascular Diseases2) Cancer2) Cancer3) Stroke3) Stroke4) Chronic lower respiratory diseases4) Chronic lower respiratory diseases5) Accidents5) Accidents6) Diabetes6) Diabetes7) Influenza and Pneumonia7) Influenza and Pneumonia8) Alzheimer's Disease8) Alzheimer's Disease9) Kidney Disease9) Kidney Disease10) Septicemia10) Septicemia

LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH for BLACK MEN ARE

DISEASES THAT CAN BE IMPACTED

Heart Disease

Cancer

Unintentional Injuries

Stroke

AIDS

Homicide

Diabetes

Pneumonia, Influenza

What does your future hold?

LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH for BLACK WOMEN ARE DISEASES THAT CAN BE

IMPACTED

Heart Disease

Cancer

Stroke

Diabetes

Unintentional Injuries

AIDS

Pneumonia, Influenza

Homicide

There are alternatives to early mortality.

Life Expectancy ComparisonsLife Expectancy Comparisons

In general life expectancy for the White In general life expectancy for the White population exceeds that of the African population exceeds that of the African American population by 5.3 yearsAmerican population by 5.3 years

Life expectancy for African American females Life expectancy for African American females is 76.1 years and 80.5 years for White femalesis 76.1 years and 80.5 years for White females

Life expectancy for African American males is Life expectancy for African American males is 69 years, and is 75.3 years for White males69 years, and is 75.3 years for White males

African American Morbidity and African American Morbidity and MortalityMortality

Infant mortality rate more Infant mortality rate more than twice the rate for than twice the rate for White infantsWhite infants

Heart disease death rate Heart disease death rate 29% higher, stroke rate 29% higher, stroke rate 40% higher40% higher

Prevalence of hypertension Prevalence of hypertension is among the highest in the is among the highest in the worldworld

Obesity and physical Obesity and physical inactivity are a major cause inactivity are a major cause of illnesses such as diabetes, of illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and certain heart disease and certain cancerscancers

Twice as likely to have Twice as likely to have diabetesdiabetes

Death rate from all cancers Death rate from all cancers 30% higher. Prostate 30% higher. Prostate cancer death rate twice as cancer death rate twice as high, women 30% more high, women 30% more likely to die of breast cancerlikely to die of breast cancer

Homicide rate 6 times Homicide rate 6 times higherhigher

Males have 8 times the Males have 8 times the AIDS rate and 9 times as AIDS rate and 9 times as likely to die. Females 25 likely to die. Females 25 times the AIDS rate and 22 times the AIDS rate and 22 times likely to dietimes likely to die

Institute of Medicine Report: Institute of Medicine Report: 3/20/023/20/02

• A look at racial disparities nationwide A look at racial disparities nationwide in health care among people with in health care among people with health insurancehealth insurance

• Reviewed more than 100 studies Reviewed more than 100 studies conducted over the previous decadeconducted over the previous decade

• Concluded that racial biases and Concluded that racial biases and differences in the quality of health differences in the quality of health plans are reasons why minorities may plans are reasons why minorities may receive worse carereceive worse care

Health Care DisparitiesHealth Care DisparitiesAfrican Americans even when insured, are less African Americans even when insured, are less

likely to receive the following:likely to receive the following:• High tech intervention therapy for CAD and High tech intervention therapy for CAD and

strokestroke• Full options for treatment of prostate, Full options for treatment of prostate,

breast and colon cancerbreast and colon cancer• Adequate prenatal careAdequate prenatal care• Cutting edge drugs for HIV infectionCutting edge drugs for HIV infection• Prescription drugs, such as more effective Prescription drugs, such as more effective

antibiotics and analgesicsantibiotics and analgesics

Economic DisparitiesEconomic Disparities

In 1974 black families had an income 63% of a In 1974 black families had an income 63% of a typical white family but in 2004 it was 58%typical white family but in 2004 it was 58%

From 1974 to 2004: the income of Black men has From 1974 to 2004: the income of Black men has decreased, that of White men has remained fairly decreased, that of White men has remained fairly stable, but White women have had a five-fold stable, but White women have had a five-fold increase in salaryincrease in salary

Poverty rate for Blacks 24.9%, and for Whites Poverty rate for Blacks 24.9%, and for Whites 8.9% in 20058.9% in 2005

In 2005 19.6% of Blacks had no health insurance In 2005 19.6% of Blacks had no health insurance and 11.3% of whites did not have health insuranceand 11.3% of whites did not have health insurance

Environmental Risk FactorsEnvironmental Risk Factors

Increased exposure to toxic waste, air pollution, Increased exposure to toxic waste, air pollution, higher concentration of crime, poorer maintained higher concentration of crime, poorer maintained buildings, and exposure to lead paintbuildings, and exposure to lead paint

Increase exposure to crime and violenceIncrease exposure to crime and violence Excess fast food outletsExcess fast food outlets Higher prices for health foods such as fruits and Higher prices for health foods such as fruits and

vegetable, with processed foods being cheaper and vegetable, with processed foods being cheaper and more abundantmore abundant

Less neighborhood safety for outdoor exercise and Less neighborhood safety for outdoor exercise and recreation, fewer gyms/fitness facilitiesrecreation, fewer gyms/fitness facilities

Choose To LiveChoose To LiveHelping Others To Live Longer and Helping Others To Live Longer and

BetterBetter

And Serve Your ChurchAnd Serve Your Church

And Your CommunityAnd Your Community

Live Longer And BetterLive Longer And Better

““But unto you But unto you that fear my that fear my name shall the name shall the Sun of Sun of righteousness righteousness arise with arise with healing in His healing in His wings…”wings…”

Malachi 4:2Malachi 4:2