January 22, 2007
San Bernardino County uses Multifaceted Attack on Health Disparities
To fight health disparities, San Bernardino County is using a multifaceted approach.
Involved in the battle is a community outreach center, a program called Healthy Communities which promotes healthy choices, a program that teaches traditional African dance and provides nutritional information (FAME), online cookbooks that feature traditional dishes updated to be more nutritious, First Choice Youth to Youth Community Outreach Workers provides HIV/AIDS awareness training, and 7 plus 1 Health Ministries.
Some of the health disparity statistics for San Bernardino are:
72 percent of Hispanic and black adults in the county are overweight or obese, compared to 62 percent of white residents.
11 percent of Hispanic adults and 8 percent of black adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 7 percent of white adults in the county.
40 percent of Hispanic adults and 36 percent of black residents get no moderate or vigorous exercise, compared to 24 percent of whites.
38 percent of black adults in the county eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, compared to 44 percent of white adults and 52 percent of Hispanics.
15 percent of Hispanic and 20 percent of black fifth-grade students meet all six California fitness standards, compared to 26 percent of white students.
Diabetes death rate in the county is 23 percent higher for black residents than for whites and Hispanics.
Stroke death rate for blacks is 36 percent higher than whites in the county.
Prostate cancer death rate is 80 percent higher among black residents than for whites.