In the News

Men's Health, Race and Ethnicity 

Gender and race affect health through various processes, as demonstrated by the findings in this 2012 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Putting Men's Health on the Map. The report found that Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) men had the highest rate of fair or poor self-reported health status; African American men maintain the highest rate of incarceration; White and Hispanic men had the highest binge drinking rates and AI/AN men also lead in diabetes . Overall African American men were found to experience worse health than men of other racial and ethnic groups. In a recent article in the New York Times, it was found that in the United States there are 83 black men for every 100 black women. Approximately 1.5 million black men between the ages of 25 and 54 are missing "largely because of early deaths or because they are behind bars."  Homicide is the leading cause of death for young black men, a group that also has higher rates of heart disease, respiratory disease and accidents. Click here to read more.  

A Closer Look at African American Men and High Blood Pressure Control   

Known as the "silent killer," high blood pressure or "hypertension" is taking an increasing toll on American society.  The rate of hypertension-related deaths increased by 23.1% from 2000 to 2013.  The prevalence of high blood pressure among black males is 30% higher than that of their white counterparts. While lifestyle choices, such as diet and physical activity, can help prevent with blood pressure, there are also important socioeconomic and psycho-social factors that increase the risk of hypertension, including income, employment, racism and stress.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, public health programs that seek to close the gap in hypertension for black males must address these health factors at the systems level - not just at the individual level.  Learn more here.    

 Health Innovations

Hair and Health Talk   

Under a new public health initiative sponsored by the Center for Health Equity at the University of Maryland and Cigna, barbers and hair stylists in DC and Prince George's County, MD are collaborating to close the health gap in cancer facing black men and women. The culturally-savvy project, known as Health Advocates In-Reach and Research or HAIR, is designed to train barbers and hair stylists on how to teach their clientele about colorectal cancer and the importance of screening. Learn more about how barbers and hair stylists are playing a key role in community engagement and health advocacy by clicking here. 

Diabetes Threatens Latino Men and Families  

According to the CDC, in the year 2000 two million of the 30 million Latinos on the U.S. had been diagnosed with diabetes.  Latinos are nearly twice as likely than whites to have diabetes.  The CDC says, "Diabetes has consistently affected Hispanics and African Americans at higher levels than non-Hispanic whites over the last two and a half decades."  Learn more by clicking here.     

Promising and Innovative Practices for Children of Incarcerated Parents: Arrest through Pre-Adjudication

Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Time: 12:30 p.m. -5:00 p.m., EDT