Introduction: This study intends to assess Chicago’s progress to date in achieving the Healthy People 2000 goal of reducing racial health disparities.
Methods: Chicago vital statistics and surveillance data were used to calculate Black/White rate ratios of mortality and morbidity for 1980-1998. Mortality and morbidity rate ratios were also used to compare people living in poor areas with those living in non-poor areas for 1979-81, 1991-93, and 1996-98. The health measures included leading causes of death, birth outcomes and communicable diseases.
Results: During the last two decades, both Black/White and poor/non-poor rate ratios monotonically increased for virtually all measures of mortality and morbidity. Almost all the rate ratios and the linear trends were statistically significant. For instance, from 1980 to 1998 the Black/White rate ratio for all cause mortality increased by 58% to 2.05. Similarly, from 1979-81 to 1996-98, the poor/non-poor rate ratio for all cause mortality increased by 56% to 2.68.
Conclusions: These findings provide clear evidence that racial disparities in health are not decreasing in Chicago. Instead, they are increasing for various measures of mortality and morbidity and thus the Healthy People 2000 goal of reducing disparities will not be reached. The fact that the widespread campaign to reduce and then eliminate health disparities is not yet effective must serve as a stimulus for improved strategies.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the Health People 2000 goal of reducing disparities as it applies to a case study in Chicago.
Keywords: Healthy People 2000/2010,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.