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In the District, African American residents are two times more likely to die from coronary heart disease, six times more likely to die from diabetes-related complications, and two times more likely to die from a stroke than their whites counterparts, according a report released last week by Georgetown University.
And while black men in D.C. have a life expectancy of 68 years old, white men are projected to live, on average, until age 83. Meanwhile, black women are expected to live nine years fewer than white women.
The Health of the African American Community in the District of Columbia: Disparities and Recommendations affirms many of the same disparities found in recent reports from groups like the Big Cities Health Coalition and Save the Children.
In addressing health issues among D.C.’s black population, people should look beyond common methods, says Christopher King, an assistant professor at Georgetown who put the report together. “We can have the best health care in the world, but if we don’t live in communities that make it easy to make healthy choices, we’re less likely to see an improvement in health.”
The city should pay attention to social, economic, and political factors that contribute to the stark differences, according to the report. As such, one of its recommendations focuses on expanding access to healthy options in food deserts. There are just three full-service grocery stores in Wards 7 and 8, for example.
Last week, D.C.’s health department released a citywide health agenda that puts addressing mental health issues as a top priority, followed by reducing violence—both topics that are highlighted in Georgetown’s report. DOH’s third concern of 13 top priorities is increasing access to health services across the city.
Georgetown’s report is being submitted to the DC Commission on African American Affairs. King hopes that it can open up the health conversation to include “unconventional players” such as employers, city planners, urban designers, real estate developers, and architects, among others.
