V. RECAPITULATION: WOMEN’S HEALTH STATISTICS       

 Leading Causes of Death and Numbers of Deaths for Females in the United States, by Race and Ethnic Origin (1997)

Table 1

Source of Table 3:  http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/minority/table1.htm

A.   CAUCASIAN WOMEN

Figure 1

 

Heart disease and cancer are still the number one killers among the entire population, including women of color.  Among Caucasian women the third highest killer is COPD usually due to the effects of cigarette smoking.  This is unlike other ethnic groups where COPD is found to rank lower on the list.

 

 

Table 2

Source of Table 4:  http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/minority/table1.htm

B.   AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN

 

Figure 2

In general African–American women have a far greater rate of death due to disease conditions (e.g. cancer, AIDS, pneumonia, and homicide) than Caucasian women.  African-American women also have had the highest rate of death due to homicide and firearm-related events vs. other ethnic groups. 

The following is a list of the leading causes of death in African-American women (as depicted above): #1-heart disease, #2-cancer, #3-strokes (cerebrovascular accident), diabetes, unintentional injuries, pneumonia, influenza, AIDS, pregnancy –related conditions, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and homicide.  The higher incidence of hypertension (high blood pressure in 1 out of every 3 adults), obesity, high fat and dietary cholesterol intake, sedentary lifestyles and prevalent diabetes seem to also be major contributors to heart disease and strokes.

Fifty percent of African-American females are obese, which is associated with the diabetes, hypertension, and a strong risk for cardiovascular disease.  Diabetes itself is a major cause of death and disability of African-American women. 

Among African-American women the incidence of AIDS has been increasing significantly. Several years ago, the death rate due to AIDS was nine times that of white women.

 

Uterine fibroid tumors are also found to be more common in African-American women. It is safe to note that this condition is not said to be life-threatening.

 

 

Table 3

 Source of Table 5:  http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/minority/table1.htm

C.   NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN

 

Figure 3

The Native American woman’s health status is directly correlated with fact that poverty and unemployment rates are higher in this ethnic group than any other ethnic group in the US.

Heart disease remains the #1 cause of death in this minority group.  Although heart disease is the major cause of death for all US women, Native American women are at a far greater risk due to their high rates of obesity, diabetes, and excess alcohol use.  It is noteworthy that 60% of Native American females are said to be overweight, have a sedentary lifestyle, have high-fat diets, and undergo cigarette and alcohol abuse.

 

Alcohol abuse is a further leading cause of death and hospitalization among these women, particularly the ages 45-54.  Death resulting from alcohol intake is ten times that of other minority groups. 

 

Renal failure (end-stage disease of the kidney) is noted as 2.8 times greater among Native Americans than Caucasians.

 

Cervical cancer is also a health issue, with survival rates being the lowest of all ethnic groups.

 

Table 4

Source of Table 6:  http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/minority/table1.htm 

D.   ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER WOMEN

Figure 4

 

Once again as in the other ethnic groups we find heart disease and cancer  among the leading causes of death among Asian American women.

Other common health problems include tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and cervical cancer.

            There is a higher rate of tuberculosis among southeastern refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.  The rate of tuberculosis among these specific groups is six times that of the general population.

            Hepatitis B is also a major concern to public health officials not only because of the high prevalence, but mostly because the rate of transfer from mother to child during birth is high.

              Cervical cancer is higher among Asian American women than among Caucasian women.  Modesty and certain cultural upbringings perhaps disallows as many women to have proper screenings such as PAP smears or breast exams to prevent such diseases.

Table 5

Source of Table 7:  http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/minority/table1.htm

E.   LATIN AMERICAN WOMEN

Figure 5

As in the other ethnic groups heart disease and cancer are the major causes of death among Latin American women. These are followed by CVD, diabetes, unintentional injuries, pneumonia and influenza, COPD, AIDs, etc.  Within these categories of diseases, there are differences in the incidence and severity among the Latin American women.  Among the more frequent types of cancer reported among these women are lung, cervical, colorectal, and breast cancer.  Strangely enough, although the rate of breast cancer among Hispanic women is lower than that of Caucasian women, Hispanic women are more likely to die of breast cancer than White women.

            Furthermore, the death rate due to diabetes in these women is two times that of Whites.  Mexican-American and Puerto Rican women have a rate of diabetes that is 112% higher than that of Whites.  For Cuban Americans, the rate is about 60% higher than in Whites.  Often times, diabetes will go undiagnosed in the Hispanic population.

            Latin women are eight times more likely to get AIDS than White women.  In December 1995, Latin women represented 20% of all accumulated AIDS cases among women in the U.S.  Certain STD’s such as syphilis and gonorrhea are 3-5 times more prevalent in the Latin American population as opposed to the White population.

Chronic depression is cited to be another health issue which ails the Latin American community – 50% of all Latinas, as compared to 37% Whites, and 47% Black women.

            It is noteworthy that in 1995, among all Hispanics, 33% had no health insurance, 41% of these being of the poor Hispanic population.  This is the highest rate of lack of insurance of any ethnic group.

Originating Source of Tables 3-7: Health, United States, 1999, Table 32.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.

Mortality Rates* for Selected Major Causes of Death for Females of All Ages, Age-Adjusted, by Race/Ethnicity, United States (1997)⁺

Table 6

Source of Table 8:  http://www.4woman.gov/owh/pub/minority/table2.htm

Key:

*Number of deaths in a given year per 100,000 persons in the Table 7population.

⁺Average annual death rate.

⁺⁺Data adjusted to compensate for the miscoding of Indian race on death certificates, per Indian Health Service, 1/00.

Originating Source of Table 8: Health, United States, 1999, Tables 36-47. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics.

Figure 6