Underneath the façade of equity and opportunity, in this country, lies a gross form of racial and class-based inequity. As a matter of fact, the economic gap, although significant between African Americans and whites, is even more significant between the poor and more affluent African Americans. These inequities manifest themselves in poor health outcomes and social class distinctions. As such, cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of African Americans may have as a significant element of its etiology, racial and class distinctions. This presentation will address the creation and inception of a community based intervention strategy that focuses on developing a broad based community coalition, population based data collection and the building of a unique community action plan designed to bring about health equity in the poorest section of Atlanta, Georgia, the Atlanta Empowerment Zone. The strategy combines a traditional public health approach and the medical model, along with the principal of the community health worker that is evolving in the developing world. As a primary thesis is the notion that health disparities will never disappear as long as social and economic disparities continue to exist and widen. This approach adds the critical features of empowerment, politically and economically, into the very nature of the program. Problem solving in this area must be as expansive and as inclusive as are the various components that contribute to the problem. Health equity must become more than a theoretical construct and we must be willing to address all facets its development.
Learning Objectives: Discuss the role of economic and social inequalities in health disparities.
Keywords: Community Health, Ethnic Minorities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
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