Efforts Raise Diabetes Awareness, Encourage Health Care Equity, Offer Pregnancy Advice For Minorities

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Public Health
Article Date: 28 Nov 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The following summarizes efforts that seek to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.

• Diabetes: St. Catherine Hospital's Stop Diabetes Program organizes education seminars at local churches to increase diabetes awareness among blacks and Hispanics. The program launched in 2006 and initially was a part of the American Diabetes Association's Power Project program, but it severed ties with the organization a year later because of costs. Eight churches and 150 people have participated in the program. Organizers recently appointed a nurse to handle screening appointments at churches. The Indiana University School of Nursing's World Health Organization Collaborating Center recently presented Stop Diabetes with the Indiana Healthy Cities and Communities Award (Levy, Gary Post-Tribune, 11/23).
  
  
• Health Insurers: The National Minority Quality Forum recently commended the American Medical Association for the development of a Heath Insurer Code of Conduct, citing a need to address disparities in the current health insurance system. The group said it will encourage physicians and patient advocates to adopt the rules with the hopes of ensuring that high-risk populations receive quality health care (PR Newswire release, 11/20).
  
  
• Pregnancy: Long Island Newsday on Sunday profiled author Kimberly Seals-Allers, who wrote "The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy," which addresses health issues specifically faced by black women during pregnancy. Seals-Allers said statistics showing black women's increased health risks during pregnancy prompted her to write the book. The book addresses fibroids, low birthweight infants, the safety of chemically processed hair and other issues. The book now is a part of Seals-Allers' Mocha Manuals, which offer advice on other subjects and target minority women (Whitehouse, Long Island Newsday, 11/23).
  

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