A Population-Based Study of 33 Causes of Death amongst America’s Five Ethnic Populations 2015. In Pursuit of Social Justice

Abstract

Introduction- Health inequalities occur in every society, until a society understands the extent of social injustice drive for change is undermined. Hence this examination of mortality of America’s Ethnic groups. Method: This study’s novel approach analyses differences of 33 mortalities of Asian, Black, Hispanic, Indian/Alaskan and White American people’s Age-Standardised-Death-Rates per million (pm). Based upon National Vital Statistics and comparative ratios are calculated for each ethnicity. Results – Black American had highest death rate 8761pm, Asian Americans lowest 3962pm. Black and Indian/Alaskan Americans had highest rates for most categories, White Americans were highest for nine. Asian and Hispanic Americans substantially lower than other groups. Black Americans had 11 higher and 10 substantially lower than White American deaths. Indian/Alaskan Americans had 10 higher and 7 substantially lower than White Americans. If Black Americans had matched the average mortality of the other groups there would have been 94,422 fewer deaths. Unexpected findings included Black Americans having lower mortalities in specific categories such as neurological disease and some cancer sites. Conclusions: Patterns of mortality strongly suggest links to relative poverty, which are barriers to social justice. While such disparities between the ethnicities remain, they are significant barriers to the pursuit of social justice.