The Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Training the Health Care Workforce

Using a modified social ecological model, we conducted a review of the literature and nationwide statistics on African American health. We discuss the main social determinants of health and main health disparities, risk factors, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and access to health services for blacks in the USA. The mechanisms through which social determinants, including racism, exert their deleterious effects on black health are discussed at the macro and individual levels. Incarceration and mental health care issues are highlighted as priorities to be addressed. African Americans remain the least healthy ethnic group in the USA, a somber legacy of years of racial and social injustice and a formidable challenge to equitable health care for all. Systemic causes of suboptimal black health require equally systemic solutions; positive trends in black health indicators seem to be driven by social development programs, economic investment in education, participation of African Americans in policy, and decision-making and expansion of access to health care.

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“…In 2011, non-black students made up 19 % of enrollment at HBCUs. In 2013, only 60 % of nurses trained in HBCUs were African American [ 88 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice

2016

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“…While the demographics of HBCUs might be changing as a reflection of the increasing diversity of the United States, the mission is still the same. Because of this mission, HBCUs are an underused resource to not only increase the public health workforce but to also increase diversity within the public health workforce ( 2 ). Currently, there are 138 accredited schools or programs of public health in the United States ( 3 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Training the Next Generation: Developing Health Education Skills in Undergraduate Public Health Students at a Historically Black College and University

Mincey

Gross

2017

Front. Public Health

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With the looming workforce crisis, undergraduate public health students could be an important link in filling this demand. As public health continues to face challenges in the future, it is important that the future workforce is not only diverse but also trained in a manner that exposes them to real-world experiences that give them an opportunity to apply coursework to solve problems. This article outlines how a health program planning course was taught at a Historically Black College and University using assignments that promote active learning. Students were assessed on their ability to plan and implement a health activity based on a developed metric. Student and instructor reflections were collected from final assessments of the health programs by both groups. All elements of the course are discussed from course design, structure, assignments, and outcomes along with student and instructor reflections and lessons learned. Results suggest that including assignments focused on active learning are beneficial to helping students learn course material. As public health continues to change, more work needs to focus on teaching pedagogies that better prepare students to address future public health issues.

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“…Although HBCUs continue to be recognized as trusted community leaders and support venues for historically underrepresented students who disproportionately enter the sciences workforce, and some federal public health partnerships have been described to expose historically underrepresented students to public health through extended training opportunities [45, 46], more may be needed to address the heightened HIV burden in many southern HBCU counties [47, 48]. To date, only four HBCUs offer formal master of public health (MPH) training programs: Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA; Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA; Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN; and Florida A&M University (FAMU) offers an online MPH program.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Determinants of HIV Disparities in the Southern United States and in Counties with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 2013–2014

et al. 2017

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HIV infection disproportionately affects Blacks in the southern United States (U.S.), a region where legal policies that may unintentionally impede earlier HIV detection and treatment are prevalent. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have historically facilitated social change in communities of color and have been underexplored as partners for HIV prevention. We describe geographic and social determinants of health (SDH) in the southern U.S. to inform potential HBCU-public health partnerships that might improve HIV health equity. We evaluated the relationship between county-level HIV prevalences (2013), HBCU geographic coordinates, and SDH variables in the southern counties with HBCUs. U.S. Census-derived SDH variables included race/ethnicity (i.e., Black, White, Hispanic), unemployment, female head of household, poverty, percent owner-occupied housing units, urbanicity, and primary care provider rates. Associations were assessed using bivariate and multivariable linear regression. Of 104 HBCUs in the contiguous U.S., 100 (96%) were located in 69 southern counties with average Black populations of 40% and an average HIV prevalence of 615. 5 per 100,000, over two times the national rate (295.1 per 100,000). In bivariable analyses, higher HIV rates in these counties were associated with higher percent Black population, unemployment, female head of household, poverty, fewer owner-occupied housing units, and greater urbanicity (p < 0.05). In multivariable analyses, counties with higher HIV rates had higher percentages of Blacks, greater urbanicity, fewer owner-occupied housing units, and more female heads of households (p < 0.05). The southern U.S. is disproportionately affected by HIV, and many HBCUs are located in affected southern counties. HBCUs may be important public health partners for helping to develop structural interventions that strengthen HIV policies in support of health equity in these southern, mostly urban counties.

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The Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Training the Health Care Workforce

Cited by 30 publications

References 3 publications

Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice

Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice

Training the Next Generation: Developing Health Education Skills in Undergraduate Public Health Students at a Historically Black College and University

Social Determinants of HIV Disparities in the Southern United States and in Counties with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), 2013–2014

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