Now online:
Snapshots: African Americans & AIDS
Recent headlines have announced the prevalence of HIV infection among black women (who are 23% more likely than white women to contract the disease) and the possibility of unethical AIDS drug testing in Africa. Closer to home, AIDS is the leading killer of young African American adults in Georgia, while whites in the same age group die most often in accidents. Metro Atlanta is home to some innovative programs to combat the epidemic, including AfriSalsa, a Latin dance troupe that encourages healthy physical encounters with the motto "switch partners all night and never get infected"; clean needle programs; services for "AIDS orphans" and programs to develop a network of teen peer counselors.
The Service: African Americans & Colon Cancer
The black church has served to invigorate souls, spearhead civil rights efforts and more recently confront the health crises of African Americans. This program examines the church’s response to colon cancer, a disease for which blacks have the highest incidence. Even when treated for colon cancer, African Americans are over 50 percent more likely to die of the disease within 10 years than Caucasians. The church service format serves as a backdrop to examine the question: Does colon cancer differentiate between blacks and whites, or do other factors impact risk and survival?
Against the Odds: African Americans & Cancer
Black men have a 40 percent higher death rate from all cancers than white men, and they are twice as likely to die of prostate cancer. Although white women have the highest rates of breast cancer, black women have the highest mortality rates. Despite a decrease in overall rates and increase in mortality rates, African Americans continue to experience disproportionately high death rates from lung cancer. This program explores the impact of race and economics on access to competent health care providers.
Obesity is a disease that affects nearly one-third of the adult American population (approximately 60 million). The American Heart Association estimates that 77% of black women and 59% of black men are overweight or obese. Much of this extra weight adds up to increased incidences of cardiovascular disease and stroke, diabetes, and hypertension. Can diet and exercise alone prevent these diseases or is there a predisposition amongst blacks?
