Early in 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that obesity was rapidly moving to the top of the list of major causes of premature or preventable deaths. This fact is highlighted by statistics in this issue brief indicating that nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults can be classified as obese or overweight. People who are overweight or obese are at risk for any number of chronic conditions, including diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and hypertension. As is the case for many other adverse health conditions, African Americans and Latinos are much more likely than other Americans to be overweight or obese. There are steps that people can take, through weight loss and improved fitness, to reduce their chronic-disease risk. But the conditions in many low-income communities create barriers for residents who want to “do the right thing.” Streets may not be safe to walk or bike, and recreational facilities may be few and far between, making it difficult for residents to get the regular physical activity recommended by their health care providers. A paucity of grocery stores with healthy food options also prevents many families from pursuing low-fat or low-sodium diets. In addition, school cafeterias and vending machines, lacking nutritious food choices, can make it difficult for young people to avoid consuming excessive nutritionally empty calories. While individuals acting alone may not be able to overcome these barriers, as this brief explains, a community can take collective action to lower them. A collaboration between the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and PolicyLink, this brief is one of four that outline strategies for achieving better health through community-focused solutions.

Available in PDF Format Only.

To download this publication, click the file icon below.

This fact sheet offers data on the use of contraceptives by African American adolescents, particularly when compared to their white counterparts. More on these findings can be found in The Reproductive Health of African American Adolescents: What We Know and What We Don't Know.

Available in PDF Format Only.

To download this publication, click the file icon below.

To better understand the issues and to inform its deliberation in formulating recommendations for policy, research, and practice, the Infant Mortality Commission asked experts in various fields related to maternal and child health and infant mortality to prepare background papers on specific issues. This background paper seeks to expand our understanding of the causes and effects of infant mortality within a broader global context. It offers comparisons between infant mortality in the U.S. and in other nations across the globe, providing a compassionate examination of the impact of social and economic inequalities on population health and infant mortality. The author concludes with policy recommendations to help mitigate or eliminate the inequalities that contribute to infant mortality. This analysis complements and reinforces the recommendations of other Courage to Love: Infant Mortality Commission background and framing papers on infant mortality and maternal nutrition; infant mortality and resilience; the role of breastfeeding in maternal and infant health; the historical framework of policies and practices to reduce infant mortality; and the authentic voices of those affected by infant mortality.

Available in PDF Format Only.

To download this publication, click the file icon below.

To provide fuller detail on disparities in child health, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies undertook an examination of how selected child health indicators (low birthweight, health status (excellent, very good, good, fair, poor or unknown), unmet dental care needs, ADHD/ADD diagnosis, asthma diagnosis, learning disability diagnosis, and activity limitation) vary by sociodemographic characteristics. This brief examines disparities in the prevalence of a lifetime asthma diagnosis among children under the age of 18 who are African American, Hispanic or white. Comparisons of asthma frequency are made between the racial/ethnic groups of children overall and between children of various racial/ethnic groups in families with comparable sociodemographic characteristics (such as family type, educational attainment of householder, employment status of household, poverty status, and health insurance coverage).

Available in PDF Format Only.

To download this publication, click the file icon below.