Connecticut is considered one of the healthiest states overall but not everyone has the same opportunities to be as healthy as possible. Race and ethnicity play a significant role in who gets sick, who experiences the most severe outcomes, and who can access health care. The resulting differences in outcomes are known as health disparities. They are a result of social, economic, and environmental factors that influence overall well-being.
A Closer Look at the Data
Health disparities persist across many different health conditions. These are examples of just a few:
Cancer
Black Connecticut residents are more likely to die from cancer than other racial and ethnic groups. While white women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, Black women are more likely to die from it. Similarly, Black men are nearly twice as likely as white men to die of prostate cancer. Hispanic Connecticut residents also face higher rates of certain cancers. Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than white women and Hispanic men are nearly twice as likely to die from liver and bile duct cancer as white men.
>>> Download a fact sheet on cancer
Infant and Maternal Health
Health disparities can begin very early in life. Babies born to Black women are significantly more likely to die before their first birthday than babies born to white women. Black babies are more than twice as likely to be born weighing less than 5 ½ pounds, which can put them at higher risk for serious health and developmental consequences. For mothers, the differences are significant. Black women are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as white women, and more than twice as likely to experience life-threatening complications during pregnancy.
>>> Download a fact sheet on infant and maternal health
Asthma
Asthma disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic residents in Connecticut. Both groups are more likely to have asthma. Black and Hispanic children are far more likely to be hospitalized or visit the emergency room for their asthma. People of color are also significantly more likely to die from asthma. Black Connecticut residents are nearly 3 times as likely to die from asthma as white residents, while Hispanic residents are nearly twice as likely to die from it.
>>> Download a fact sheet on asthma
Diabetes
In Connecticut, Black residents are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and to die from the disease. They are also more likely to experience deaths from complications of diabetes. A serious complication of diabetes is having a leg or foot amputated. This is often preventable, but Black and Hispanic residents are significantly more likely than white residents to experience it.
>>> Download a fact sheet on diabetes
To learn more about health disparities, visit our topic guide here.