Black women and women of color deserve equitable healthcare
Black women are plagued by disproportionately higher incidence and mortality rates for various diseases.
- Black women had the highest maternal mortality rate across racial and ethnic groups in 2021 (69.9 per 100,000) and the largest increase when compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
- Black women have the lowest survival for all subtypes of breast cancer.
- Black women are disproportionately burdened by chronic conditions, such as anemia, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and obesity.
Historically, medical research has often overlooked the unique healthcare needs and experiences of Black women and women of color. This can lead to gaps in knowledge about effective treatments and interventions for conditions that disproportionately affect these populations. Additionally, systemic barriers to accessing care can further exacerbate these disparities.
Studies have shown that Black women and women of color often experience racial bias and discrimination in healthcare settings. This can manifest as disparities in treatment, with healthcare providers being less likely to take their symptoms seriously or provide appropriate care. A recent KFF survey found Black patients regularly said their health care provider assumed something about them without asking; suggested they were personally at fault for a health problem; ignored a direct request or question; or refused to prescribe them pain medication they thought they needed. More than half of all Black respondents also said they prepare to visit their health care provider by expecting insults or by being very careful about their appearance — or both. In the KFF survey, Black women reported the highest rates of unfair treatment, with 1 in 5 saying a health care provider treated them differently because of their racial or ethnic background.
Economic Impact
When asked on a podcast to explain why culturally competent care is essential, Health In Her HUE founder Ashlee Wisdom says “Yeah. I talk about the loss of productivity, and how much that’s costing our overall economic system. And that is costing 10 billion to the economy, the U.S. economy. 35 billion dollars in excess health care expenditures because of misdiagnoses or getting screenings, not getting screenings that are necessary, and then 200 billion dollars in premature deaths. Those are the three data points that I often call out to really make that case of why there’s an economic imperative to addressing this problem.”
Health in Her HUE’s Solution
Health In Her HUE is a digital platform that connects Black women, women of color, and non-binary people to culturally competent and sensitive healthcare providers, and offers health information and content that centers their Heard and Understood Experiences (HUE). The platform empowers women of color and their allies to share, learn and innovate around the health issues that disproportionately affect them.
Health in Her HUE can decrease chronic care and ER costs by helping members better manage their health, find and engage with in-network providers who can best meet their needs, and get support navigating their care.
Femovate’s Impact
Health In Her Hue was awarded sponsorship through Guidea’s Femovate program for ‘23-’24.
As part of the Femovate sponsorship, Guidea designers are working with the talented team at Health In Her Hue to create Care Squads that empower women with the information and support they need to manage chronic conditions.
“I'm thrilled to share that Health In Her HUE has been selected as one of the 30 pioneering companies for Femovate by Guidea 2023-24! 🎉
This opportunity is a testament to our commitment to making a meaningful impact in the femtech space. Being among the chosen few is not just a recognition of our hard work but also an endorsement of the potential Health In Her HUE holds to contribute to the evolution of women's health.
Thank you to Guidea for providing us with this opportunity to accelerate our growth and amplify our efforts! We're eager to leverage the expertise and support offered through Femovate to bring innovative solutions that cater to the unique needs of women of color.”
–Ashlee Wisdom, Founder Health in Her HUE
For more information about Health in Her HUE, visit https://healthinherhue.com/ and follow them on LinkedIn
For more information on Femovate visit www.femovate.com and follow us on LinkedIn
For interviews please contact Theresa Neil
