1. Introduction Minnesota is among the states with one of the greatest health disparities gap between whites and African Americans ("Strategies For Public," 2002). Despite its national recognition for being one of the healthiest states in the U.S., Minnesota has been working to close the considerable gap to benefit the state’s 14 percent of colored people (2002). The noticeable gap is a result of disparities between white and non-white residents and will be discussed in further detail pertaining to African Americans specifically ("How health reform," 2010). This poster aims to bring awareness to the health disparities among African Americans in Minnesota, what the disparities are, what causes them, what is or should be done to close this gap, statistical data, current approaches and their effectiveness. First, to get an idea where African Americans stand among health disparities I will provide some background information. Background Since 1987 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has been documenting health disparities through Populations of Color Health Status Reports (Eliminating health disparities, 2011). In 2001, results from this data collection determined 8 major concerns within the African American population (2011): Infant mortality Adult and child immunization Breast and cervical cancer HIV/AIDS and STIs Cardiovascular disease Diabetes Unintentional injuries Teen pregnancy MDH has been making efforts to mobilize programs in which these issues are addressed (Eliminating health disparities, 2011). Health Disparities Populations of color are at greater risk of developing/suffering from cancer, heart disease, chemical dependency, diabetes, homicide, suicides, unintentional injury and HIV/AIDS ("Strategies For Public," 2002). This poster will be focusing on HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease and immunizations. The following health barriers are taken into account when observing these issues (2002): Lack of health insurance Access to affordable care Language differences Lack of knowledge on available services Discrimination/racism/biased care Cultural and belief barriers Figure 2. Uninsurance Rates by Race/Ethnicity. State & county quick facts. (2012, September 18). Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27/2743000.html http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/27/2743000.html From 2005 to 2008 prevalence of HIV/AIDS among African American men grew to be 21 times more likely to develop HIV/AIDS while African American women were 91 times more likely to suffer from HIV/AIDS, compared to their white counterparts ("Strategies For Public," 2002). The prevalence of HIV/AIDS within this population is based on the number of diagnoses, prevalence of complications, preventative care and death rates ("Disparities in diagnoses," 2011). Age-adjusted rates proved that cardiovascular disease was more prevalent among colored people compared to the white population in Minnesota ("Priority health areas," 2010). Specifically, stroke related deaths for African American men were 44% higher than white men (2010). Also, premature deaths reflected through years of potential life lost (YPLL) showed a dramatic difference in whites versus African Americans for heart disease and stroke related deaths (2010). The difference being 64 to 165 percent greater that African Americans will die at an earlier age from cardiovascular disease (2010). Immunizations also remain a pressing issue in disease prevention among African Americans (Immunization & health disparities, 2008). The unequal distribution of vaccinations is correlated between socioeconomic factors and the ability to afford care (Brisbane, 1998). Conclusions Recognition of the obvious gap in health disparities has led Minnesota to specify areas of focus on racial and ethnic minorities (Eliminating health disparities, 2011). African Americans were introduced as a population with significant health disparities in various areas of disease and societal issues (2011). The few issues addressed were HIV/AIDS, prevalence of cardiovascular disease and immunization distribution. These were seen as an effect from societal, economic, cultural and physical/behavioral factors including health care bias or discrimination, inability to pay, cultural values and beliefs ("How health reform," 2010). New programs and approaches to health have resulted from efforts made to close the gap on health disparities (2010). Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative and the 2014 health reform law are examples (among others available) hoped to continually benefit colored populations such as African Americans in health provision (2011).. Hannah Pollack HERS Department, Winona State University, Winona, Mn 55987 Literatures cited (2002). Strategies For Public Health. A Compendium of Ideas, Experience, and Research From Minnesota’s Public Health Professionals, 2, Retrieved from http://www.health.state.mn.us/ strategies/http://www.health.state.mn.us/ (2008). Immunization & health disparities. St. Paul: Retrieved from http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/stats/ immreport.pdf http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/immunize/stats/ (2010). How Health Reform Helps Communities of Color in Minnesota. Minority Health Initiatives, Retrieved from http://familiesusa2.org/assets/pdfs/health-reform/minority- health/helping-communities-of-color/Minnesota.pdf http://familiesusa2.org/assets/pdfs/health-reform/minority- Brisbane, F. (1998). Cultural competence for health care professionals working with african-american communities: Theory and practice. Cultural Competence Series, (7), Retrieved from ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/bphc/docs/ 1999PALS/PAL99-10.PDFftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/bphc/docs/ Disparities in diagnoses of hiv infection between blacks/african americans and other racial/ethnic populations. (2011, February 04). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6004a2.htm http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ Eliminating health disparities initiative. In (2011). Report to the Minnesota Legislature 2011Retrieved from http:// www.health.state.mn.us/ommh/publications/ legislativerpt2011.pdf www.health.state.mn.us/ommh/publications/ Presentation of the centers for disease control racial and ethnic health disparities action institute. (2009). Retrieved from http://www.health.state.mn.us/ommh/committees/ ommhadvcomm/cdcpres042809.pdf http://www.health.state.mn.us/ommh/committees/ Priority health areas of the eliminating health disparities initiative. (2010, November 06). Retrieved from http://www.health.state.mn.us/ommh/grants/ehdi/ priority.html http://www.health.state.mn.us/ommh/grants/ehdi/ Figure 1. Graph displaying effect of health disparites on overall mortality rates in Minnesota. Risk factors and health indicators by race/ethnicity, gender and trend. (2011). Retrieved from http://wwwn.cdc.gov/sortablestats/ The Health Disparities of African Americans in Minnesota Causes Evidence relating social, economic, cultural and physical factors have been studied to link specific causes of health disparities among African Americans (Eliminating health disparities, 2011). Socially, there is still racial discrimination and bias in provision of services. This affects the quality of service that African Americans receive when seeking health care and can influence the decision to pursue medical attention (2011). Economically, feasible services are sometimes unavailable or unknown to those seeking affordable health care (2011). Unawareness can lead to declines in health even if suitable care is available (Brisbane, 1998). Cultural beliefs are also a barrier within diverse populations. Physical health can be affected due to conflict of traditions found in Western medical practice (1998). What works: programs that address health disparities The Office of Minority and Multicultural Health (OMMH) created a plan specific to improve health disparities in Minnesota (Eliminating health disparities, 2011). The plan resulted in the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI) (2011). EHDI is a grant designed to provide funding to potential programs, which will better educate and provide to populations in need of services (2011). The initial program and its goals were presented for approval to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) via the Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Action Institute (REHDAI) (Presentation of the, 2009). Since program acceptance in 2009, EHDI has been making strides by developing partnerships within Minnesota communities to diversify and increase marketability of services by offering alternative health care (2009). Services vary depending on location and demographics (2011). Future benefits can be found within the 2014 health reform ("How health reform," 2010). It has been estimated that African Americans (among other racial and ethnic minorities) will account for about 18% of the newly eligible Medicaid recipients (2010). The new Medicaid law will cover children as well as individuals and families below the federal poverty level (2010). Besides Medicaid, health reform will increase funding to community health services, which typically provide to patients regardless of socioeconomic status or health coverage (2010). Approximately 60% of the population using community centers as primary preventative care are of a racial or ethnic minority (2010). For further information Please contact hpollack09@winona.edu. More information on this and related projects can be obtained at http://www.health.state.mn.us/strategies/disparities. pdf Figure 3. Nurse examines immigrant baby (Corbis Images).