Critical MASS

Critical Mass focuses on the elimination of health disparities in racial and ethnic minority populations. We recognize that other groups experience health disparities too. Disparities can be reduced when communities confront racism and other societal biases directly, value diversity and promote the health and well being of their members.

Health Disparities are the differences in the incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, burden of disease, access to prevention, screening & treatment services and other health indicators†that exist between specific, different populations. These disparities are further influenced by socio-economic status and biases, including race, religion, sexual identity and immigrant status.

Expanded Definition

Health Disparities are the differences in health status between different groups. Critical MASS focuses upon their elimination in racial and ethnic groups. We measure these gaps in many ways, through identifying

new cases of a disease
number of people overall with a disease
deaths from a disease
access to prevention, screening & treatment services
increased burdens a disease causes
and other health markers.

Factors such as income, education and where a person lives intensify these disparities. The disparities can be reduced when society as a whole confronts racism and other biases including those against religions, sexual identity and immigrants; when it values the ability to work with diverse peoples and promotes the health and well-being of all its communities.

In Massachusetts:

16% of Asians live below poverty; 21% of Blacks and 30% of Hispanics. Only 6% of Whites make less than $18,000 (Source: Census 2000).

Hispanics are 185% more likely to be uninsured that Whites; Blacks are 101% more likely (Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) 1998-2000).

Because of cost, Hispanics are 106% more likely not to seek health care than Whites; Asians 105% more likely and Blacks 81%. (Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)1998-2000).

Compared to Whites- Hispanic mothers are 195% more likely to receive inadequate prenatal care; Blacks 182%; American Indians 178% & Asians 105% (Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 1998-2000 Massachusetts Birth data)

Among youths 15-24, Hispanics have a 819% higher mortality rate due to homicide than Whites, while Black youths are 2156% higher! (Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health.1999-2000 Massachusetts mortality data).

Minorities make up 28% of the US population but only 7% of its doctors and 3% of its nurses.

*Data/terms for race & ethnicity from US Census 2000. Critical MASS recognizes how a group is named is contentious & differences of opinion exist.

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