The Health Imperatives for Black Women

The Black Women's Health Imperative is a national, not-for-profit educational, advocacy and leadership development organization that's committed to eliminating the health disparities that exist for Black women. These five "Health Imperatives for Black Women" are guided by our mission - optimum health for Black women - and are reflected in every action step we take as an organization. Please review them and then join us in our efforts to optimize the physical, mental and spiritual wellness of all Black women.

1. Make Black women's health an imperative for federal and state governments and communities.


Black women's lives are at risk. Historically, they have had the worst health on nearly every health index when compared to other groups of women, despite advances in medicine - and continue to die needlessly or to suffer unnecessarily from preventable and treatable causes. In its recent report, Unequal Treatment, the Institute of Medicine concluded that minority groups receive the poorest quality of care, even when they have health insurance, and that Black women receive the "poorest of the poor" care in comparison with White men, White women and even Black men. Lawmakers at every level must ensure that the latest and most aggressive diagnostic procedures and treatments are offered to Black women, to end even the appearance of sexism and racism.

2. Work to eliminate the enormous health disparities that exist for Black women


Black women have the highest or near highest rates of most major chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, stroke, most cancers, glaucoma, arthritis and lupus) and risk factors for poor health (obesity, sedentary lifestyles, drug dependence, tobacco use, depression, sexually transmitted diseases, low immunization rates and partner violence). This is not surprising given the barriers created by government health and welfare policies to comprehensive health services for women. There are welfare policies that discourage pregnancy by denying dependent care coverage for subsequent children; and "reforms" that force women into the minimum wage workforce without affordable childcare, job training or family supports. These barriers must be pulled down.


3. Ensure that Black women have access to the broad range of reproductive health options, are empowered to make real choices and are assured of privacy in reproductive decision-making.


The steady chipping away at the reproductive rights of women, including the availability of safe abortion services, has an unequal impact on Black women, who are also disproportionately poor. Black women will bear the greatest burden if there is a return to back alley practices.

4. Reduce the high death rates among Black women from preventable causes.


Soaring death rates from preventable causes shame us as a society. Black women have the highest death rates from heart disease, AIDS, breast cancer, stroke and pregnancy-related causes compared to all other women - most of these preventable or, with timely and proper treatment, treatable. They have the shortest life expectancy and die from pregnancy-related causes more than any other group of women, at four times the rate of White women. They also have the highest prevalence of low birth-weight babies and infant mortality; higher than many underdeveloped countries. Improving access to health care could save untold lives.

5. Increase access to health insurance coverage for all Black women and their families.


One out of three Black women has no health insurance. Unlike most Americans, who depend on employer-provided coverage for their health care, substantial numbers of Black women have part -time or low-paying jobs with no job-based insurance coverage, and no assured access to life-saving or preventive care. We cannot tolerate the persistence of a class system in basic health care.