The poverty rate for non-Hispanic Whites is at 10%, while the rate for Hispanic and Black children is three times higher at 30%. {Healthy Generations, 2003}. Forty percent to 52% of all uninsured persons, regardless of income status, have no usual source of health care (DHHS, 1995). African Americans continue to experience higher rates of morbidity and mortality from cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma, HIV/AIDS, and asthma. Hispanic Americans experience increased rates of morbidity and mortality from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
In addition to these trends, Native Americans and Alaska Natives face lower health status indicators regarding life expectancy and infant mortality. Asian Americans have greater incidences of certain cancers (AMA/JC Nelson, 2003). It is also estimated that 6 million of the 17 million people with diabetes in the Us have undiagnosed or unrecognized diabetes (NDEP, 2003). Concurrently, many of these individuals have risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Diabetes in the Hispanic community has reached epidemic proportions.
Of the 30 million Hispanics in the US, approximately 2 million have diagnosed diabetes. In 2003,the number of Americans with diabetes rose to an all time high, estimated at 18.2 million people (HHS RELEASE, 2003).
Moreover, there remain significant disparities in medical treatment and access as documented in the IOM report, Unequal Treatment, Confronting Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. For these reasons, the ODCR has made as its ultimate goal to aid the institution in reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities.