Black Intel

From Black Women for Wellness

In these times of economic hardship, Americans are finding it more difficult to balance our budgets. With unemployment at a record high and countless employed citizens receiving pay cuts, we have to think harder about our spending habits. The stress of the recession has hit the Black community especially hard; recent studies show that the unemployment rate of African Americans is approximately 11.5 percent, the highest it has been since 2003.

The fact is, the recession has had a worse effect on Black families than families of any other racial or ethnic group. Blacks tend to have fewer employment opportunities and lower wages than members of other ethnic groups, leading to lower incomes and lower overall economic growth. A recent analysis of the United States Labor Department data shows that the unemployment rate for Black women has risen dramatically – about 33 percent from 2007 to 2008.

How does this relate to our health? In most cases, your employment determines your health status. Health insurance is most commonly linked to employment; those that are unemployed are less likely to have a health insurance plan. As the Black community experiences high levels of unemployment, we are becoming increasingly uninsured.

This is especially disheartening for Black women. As Black women are often the head of the household, our health is not only in jeopardy from unemployment, but the health of our families and children may be at risk, as well – the link between employment, health insurance and economic status has an adverse affect on our community. Our ability to make reproductive health decisions is directly influenced by our ability to financially support children. This recession finds women – and especially Black women – making different decisions regarding children and child bearing as a result of our financial status.

A recent study by the Guttmacher Institute looked at the impact of the recession on women’s reproductive health decisions. Nearly half of the women surveyed stated that the economy has influenced their decision to reduce or delay childbearing; the changes in fertility preferences are more likely to occur in lower-income households. The survey also found that in the last year, nearly one in four women reported skipping a gynecological exam in order to save money; this was more prevalent in women who have lost their health insurance coverage than women who were currently insured.

Black women today are being forced into a precarious situation –

It’s that untenable situation that women are forced into – wanting to prevent pregnancy because of economic difficulties but not necessarily being able to afford pregnancy prevention tools – that is most concerning. It’s not new but it’s made all the more real during these difficult economic times.

– Janette Robinson-Flint is Executive Director of Black Women for Wellness, a Los Angeles-based organization committed to healing, educating, inspiring and supporting Black women. The organization, in partnership with California Family Health Council and LA Care, is hosting a free day-long symposium on October 29, entitled RESPECT: Inclusion & Integrity of African Americans in Health Care. For more information on the symposium and Black Women for Wellness, please visit: http://www.bwwla.com.