| Despite major advances in the medical system, inequalities in health outcomes for African American women persist. African American women represent 13% of the female population, yet they account for over 50% of AIDS cases in women (Center for Disease Control, 2004), have death rates that exceed other women by 46% for stroke, 32% for heart disease, and 23% for cancer (National Center for Health Statistics Health, 2007). To better understand this issue an examination of the life histories of African American women was conducted. The purpose of this study and the primary research question was: What are African American women's perceptions of race, gender, socioeconomics, and stress on health outcomes?;The researcher recruited three participants between the ages of 35-75 who lived and worked in Los Angeles, California, had experienced health issues, self-identified as Black or African American, reported having experienced stress, and had educational levels varying from college graduate to postgraduate degree. This semi-structured interview design included a demographic questionnaire and a quantitative inventory (Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure) to assess cultural identification. Data was analyzed using a seven-step analysis designed for conducting culturally competent qualitative health research with African American participants (Banks-Wallace, 2003).;Findings indicated that participants perceived race, gender, socioeconomics, and stress as barriers to adequate healthcare. Disparities remained even after accounting for education, availability of healthcare, individual needs and preferences, and private health insurance. Analysis of the data showed that the experiences of the participants could be categorized into the following themes: (a) institutionalized racism, (b) sexism and malechauvinism, (c) financial struggles, (d) stress and the Strong Black Woman, (e) mistrust of Euro-American providers, (f) disordered and unhealthy eating, and (g) exclusion and underrepresentation.;Implications for future research on gender sensitivity, self-efficacy and health outcomes, culturally responsive interventions, and treatment policies are discussed. This study contributed to the literature addressing health disparities and expanded the knowledge pertaining to cultural competency for health care providers. |
