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Every February,  people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as part of  Black History Month. This celebration started as a week-long event by Carter G. Woodson in 1926, and officially became a month-long event in 1976 when U.S. president Gerald Ford extended the recognition to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans. 

Although this month revolves around the achievements of African Americans, a space that continues to need focus is the health and wellness of the Black Community. There are many challenges that African Americans face when dealing with their overall health.

Social Health Determinants

For people of color, geography, income, and race are established factors of health outcomes. External challenges — racism, poverty, exclusion, inferior schools, unsafe housing, poor nutrition, and toxic environments, are considered when it comes to African American wellness.

Physician-Patient Commonality

It has been an ongoing challenge for African Americans to find a doctor with a common culture background. With there being many health disparities in the Black Community, it is important for doctors to understand the history and anatomy of African Americans. Culturally responsive care has been hard to find in the mental health field especially.

Healthcare System Mistrust

The longstanding  history of mistreatment, such as Henrietta Lacks and the Syphilis Study at Tuskegee, are among the factors contributing to this mistrust. This also comes from negative interactions with healthcare professionals and lack of access to health related resources.

How We Can Help

An important part of our member care management philosophy is to partner with you and your primary care physician (PCP) to maximize the quality and effectiveness of your health care.The USFHP Primary Health Care Plan provides routine doctor's visits, hospitalization, prescription coverage, preventative health care coverage, and specialty care. We’ve got you covered, from physical to emotional care, as our members’ overall health is our priority.

Visit usfhp.net or call 1-800-241-4848 for more information or assistance scheduling a one-on-one appointment.