NEW YORK – Addressing health disparities in Black Brooklyn remains a pressing challenge as the city confronts systemic inequities exacerbated by COVID-19 and ongoing socio-economic factors. Despite the resilience and strength of Black communities, significant health disparities persist, affecting access to care and overall health outcomes.
According to the NYC Department of Health, health disparities are marked by differences in health outcomes that reflect social inequalities, leading to higher rates of preventable illnesses and deaths in marginalized communities. Factors contributing to these disparities include limited access to primary care, inadequate preventive services, and broader socio-economic determinants.
Recent reports highlight that residents of the poorest neighborhoods in NYC face disproportionately high rates of premature deaths. A study by the National Library of Medicine underscores that Black individuals and immigrants encounter healthcare inequities due to distrust, discrimination, and adverse social determinants, stressing the need for patient feedback to drive systemic improvements.
In response to these challenges, several initiatives and programs are aiming to bridge the gap. The Brooklyn Health Equity Index, a collaboration between One Brooklyn Health System, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, seeks to evaluate and enhance how healthcare systems address equity. This index aims to provide tools for healthcare organizations to make systemic changes and promote health equity.
Key health indicators in Brooklyn reveal substantial disparities: 45% of residents are covered by Medicaid, 8.2% lack health insurance, and there are significant rates of preventable hospitalizations and emergency room visits for conditions like asthma and diabetes. The borough also experiences high rates of opioid abuse, suicide, and sexually transmitted infections.
Efforts to improve maternal health outcomes are critical, as Black women in NYC are eight times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women. This alarming disparity has prompted legislative and healthcare responses, such as the forum hosted by Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, aimed at finding solutions to these issues.
The growing trend of criminalizing pregnancy outcomes, such as abortion and miscarriage, disproportionately affects people of color and may deter them from seeking necessary care. In response, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and the Democratic Women’s Caucus have called on the Biden administration to address these patterns of criminalization.
The New York Health Foundation is also actively involved in addressing racial and ethnic health disparities through grant-making initiatives that focus on equitable access to healthy food, support for expectant parents, and training for healthcare providers on equity issues.
At a recent forum, Torian Easterling, MD, MPH, emphasized the importance of collective efforts to achieve health equity. “To achieve the outcomes that we need, we have to do it together,” he stated, highlighting the need for a unified approach to tackle health disparities and improve the well-being of Black Brooklyn residents.
As the city continues to address these pressing issues, the focus remains on closing the gap in health outcomes and ensuring that all communities have access to the care and resources they need to thrive.
— Aimé Lufulwabo, MD, MPH
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