HEALTH DISPARITIES RESOURCE TEAM
It is a troubling fact that certain population groups are more likely than others to develop cancer and less likely to survive it.
In Connecticut and the U.S., for example, African American males have the highest rate of new cancer cases overall, and both males and females of African American race have the highest death rates. Nationally, American Indian males and African American females have the lowest cancer survival rates of any population group. Even greater disparities exist in incidence and death rates for specific types of cancer among different populations. Trends in cancer incidence and deaths also differ among population groups.
There is no simple explanation for these and other disparities. The reasons behind them are complex and may be related to lifestyle practices such as smoking, exercise, and diet, and to social determinants of health such as housing, income, education, health insurance status, and access to primary and preventive care.
Health disparities have been identified and strategies for reducing them have been proposed in every area across the continuum of cancer control described in the Plan. The Partnership's Disparities Resource Team is working with each of the other Partnership committees to address these issues.
The overarching issue of disparities in and access to prevention and health care resources cuts across all continuum priorities. Disparities may be due to health literacy issues, language barriers, access, culture, socioeconomic status, or race/ethnicity. The Partnership has established a Disparities Resource Team in 2008 to work with each committee. This team is serving as a liaison and expert resource to ensure that each committee addresses disparity issues across the continuum.
Click on the link below to download the Disparities and Access chapter of the Connecticut Cancer Plan
Cross Cutting Activities and Support: Disparities and Access (PDF, 78 KB)
