Statistics show African American men worse off

Black American men suffer far worse health than any other racial group in America. It is accepted that the reasons for this, although complex, include number of well known factors. These include racial discrimination, a lack of affordable health services, poor health education, cultural barriers, poverty, employment that does not carry health insurance, insufficient medical and social services catering for African American men, to name but a few.

African American Male Health Statistics:

African American men live 7.1 years less than other racial groups

They have higher death rates than women for all leading causes of death

They experience disproportionately higher death rates in all the leading causes of death40% of African American men die prematurely from cardiovascular disease as compared to 21% of white men

They have a higher incidence and a higher rate of death from oral cancerAfrican American men are 5 times more likely to die of HIV/AIDS

Other Health Statistics
44% of African American men are considered overweight24% are obese
African American men suffer more preventable oral diseases that are treatable
A higher incidence of diabetes and prostate cancerA high suicide rate. It is the 3rd leading cause of death in 15 to 24 year olds

Ten Leading Causes of death in the U.S.(2001) Blacks and African Americans
Cardiovascular Disease
Cancer
Stroke
Unintentional injuries
Diabetes
Homicide
HIV/AIDS
Chronic lower respiratory disease
Nephritis, Nephrotic syndrome and Nephrosis

SepticemiaSource: Health, U.S., 2003, Table 3
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