Inequality in America

‘Inequality in America' Special Examines Health Care Disparities

News4’s “Inequality in America” special dives into how race and ethnicity can play roles in health care outcomes

By NBC Washington Staff • •

NBC Universal, Inc.

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare racial and ethnic inequalities in health care that have been built into policies and practices over generations. 

For COVID-19, there is hope in the form of a vaccine. But as News4 prepares for our annual Health & Fitness Expo this month, we’re taking a look at issues that a shot can’t make go away. 

News4’s “Inequality in America” special examines how race and ethnicity can play roles in health care outcomes. 

As COVID-19 attacked their bodies, Black Americans also dealt with the stress and trauma brought on by the nation’s racial reckoning. Doreen Gentzler looks at mental health care and the twin pandemics for communities of color. 

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In about a minute-and-a-half, D.C. cardiologist Dr. Reginald Robinson explained what health inequity is and how to address it. “Transportation, housing, security, policing — all those factors play a role in precipitating cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions. We can’t look at just one particular factor,” he said Wednesday at a city news conference on the coronavirus pandemic.

“Today Show” Anchor Craig Melvin speaks with Cory Smith about colorectal cancer and significantly higher death rates for Black men and women. Go here to read the full story.

The colorectal cancer death rates for Black men and women are significantly higher than anyone else. Today Show anchor Craig Melvin says that is largely due to less screening.

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We talk about uterine fibroids, which one study found that Black women are diagnosed with at about three times the rate of white women. 

Uterine fibroids impact Black women three times as much as white women. But they are not studied as much as other common conditions, a doctor says.

Jummy Olabanji looks at maternal mortality for Black women and how a local doctor is working to help. 

There’s an alarming trend in the nation’s capital: D.C. has the highest maternal mortality rate in the country. News4’s Jummy Olabanji looks at the problem and potential solutions.

And Tracee Wilkins examines nutrition and chronic kidney disease, from which African Americans disproportionately suffer. 

Kidney disease has caught many Prince George’s County residents off guard. One D.C.-area doctor tells News4’s Tracee Wilkins that every African-American person should ask their health care provider about kidney health.

Previous "Inequality in America" specials have explored voting rights, police brutality and the intersection of sports and racism. 

Although soccer is referred to as "the beautiful game," in some places, there is an ugly side to the sport that players are now joining forces to address. News4's Justin Finch spoke to DC United goalkeeper Bill Hamid about how he's leading the way for this effort in a special broadcast of "Inequality in America" on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020.
News4 anchor Aaron Gilchrist led a discussion on racism, police and how Black Lives Matter became a movement. Watch it here in its entirety.

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