Health care disparities plague Muslim women, other minorities in US
Despite the U.S. spending more than $4.4 trillion on health care in 2022, racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Muslim women, face significant disparities.
According to a study on their interactions within the healthcare system, cultural and religious practices, such as the preference for female health care providers and the need for accommodations such as prayer times, are often misunderstood or ignored, leading to gaps in care.
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these disparities.
Black and Hispanic women, including Muslims, experiencing increased risks and complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
Chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension worsen these risks, contributing to a decline in life expectancy for minority groups.
The American Muslim community’s diverse backgrounds are often obscured by inadequate census categorization, affecting resource allocation and health care access.
Studies show Black patients receive worse care than white patients in more than half of quality measures.
They highlight the need for systemic changes to address such inequities rooted in historical and ongoing policies.
Policy choices made by federal, state, and local leaders over many decades have led to economic suppression, unequal educational access, and widespread housing segregation.
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