Epidemiology Across Cultures: African American Populations
Demographics | Health Statistics | Educational Statistics | Resources
Demographics
The term "Black or African American" refers to people having origins in any of the Black race groups of Africa. The 2006–2008 American Community Surveys estimates that the United States population was 301.2 million. Of the total, 37.1 million, or 12.3 percent, reported that they are Black or African American. [1]
Health Statistics
Incidence and Prevalence of Diseases
AIDS/HIV, number of 42,6555 newly reported cases in 2007 [2]
|
51%
|
Cleft lip/palate [3]
|
0.3 per 1,000 live births
|
Sickle Cell Anemia [4]
|
1 per 500 births
|
|
Female
|
Male
|
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) [5]
|
46.9%
|
44.6%
|
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) [5]
|
8.8%
|
7.8%
|
Diabetes Mellitus [5]
|
13.0%
|
12.8%
|
| Stroke [5] |
4.3% |
3.8% |
Risk Factors
|
Female
|
Male
|
Hypertension [5]
|
44.8%
|
43.0%
|
Obesity (BMI 30+) [5]
|
53.2%
|
35.2%
|
Total cholesterol 240 mg/dL+ [5]
|
13.1%
|
10.9%
|
Educational Statistics
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, approximately 17% of students enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in the Fall of 2006 were Black, Non-Hispanic. [6]
Special Education Identification (Fall 2004)[7]
Percentage of students ages 6 through 21 receiving special education services for given disability category
|
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
|
Specific Learning Disabilities
|
5.65
|
Speech or Language Impairment
|
1.82
|
Mental Retardation
|
1.87
|
Emotional Disturbance
|
1.38
|
Multiple Disabilities
|
0.28
|
Hearing Impairment
|
0.12
|
Orthopedic Impairment
|
0.10
|
Other Health Impairment
|
0.87
|
Visual Impairment
|
0.05
|
Autism
|
0.26
|
Deaf-Blindness
|
0.0
|
Traumatic Brain Injury
|
0.04
|
Return to Top
[1] U.S. Census Bureau. (2008) 2006-2008 American community survey. Retrieved January 5, 2010 from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G00_&-redoLog=false&-mt_name=ACS_2008_3YR_G2000_B02001.
[2] Center for Disease Control and Population. (2009). "Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS among African Americans." Retrieved January 5, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/factsheets/aa.htm.
[3] Biavati, M. (2009). Cleft Palate. Retrieved January 5, 2010 from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/878062-overview.
[4] National Heart Blood and Lung Institute. (n.d.). Who is at risk for sickle cell anemia? Retrieved January 5, 2010, from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Sca/SCA_WhoIsAtRisk.html.
[5] American Heart Association. (2009). Heart disease and stroke statistics-2010 update. Dallas: American Heart Association.
[6] Digest of Education Statistics. (2008). "Percentage distribution of enrollment in public elementary and secondary school, by race/ethnicity and state: Fall 1996 and Fall 2006." Retrieved January 5, 2010 from http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d08/tables/dt08_041.asp.
[7] U.S Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education Programs. (2009). 28th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 2006, vol. 1, Washington DC.