Current State of Health in Arizona: Significant Disparities Persist
Arizona faces substantial health disparities across racial and ethnic groups, with minorities experiencing poorer health outcomes, less access to healthcare, and higher rates of chronic disease compared to non-minority populations. 1
Health Insurance Coverage and Access
13.5% of Arizona adults lack health insurance coverage, with significant disparities among demographic groups 2:
- Hispanic populations have higher rates of being uninsured
- 18-34 year olds are more likely to lack coverage
- Those with high school education or less report higher rates of being uninsured
In Arizona, insurance coverage varies dramatically by race 3:
- 11.0% of whites lack health insurance
- 26.2% of Hispanics lack health insurance
- 50.5% of American Indians/Alaska Natives lack health insurance
28.7% of Arizona adults report not having a personal doctor, and 14.1% indicate that medical costs are a barrier to seeking care 2
Chronic Disease Burden
Diabetes management shows alarming disparities in Arizona 4:
- Black patients face the highest disparities across multiple diabetes metrics
- American Indian populations experience disproportionately high rates of diabetes-related deaths
- Uninsured patients and those with less education show poorer diabetes outcomes
Border communities in Arizona face unique health challenges 1:
- 70% Hispanic population in areas like Douglas
- High poverty rates
- Elevated chronic disease prevalence
- Limited healthcare access
Health Status of American Indians/Alaska Natives
- Life expectancy among American Indians/Alaska Natives has declined from 72 years in 2019 to 68 years in 2021 5
- This life expectancy is equivalent to the overall U.S. population life expectancy in the 1940s 5
- American Indians/Alaska Natives experience:
- Highest age-adjusted prevalence of type 2 diabetes among all racial/ethnic groups
- Approximately twice the age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes and diabetes-related mortality compared to non-Hispanic whites
- 1.5 times the incidence of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular-related mortality 5
Social Determinants of Health
- Educational attainment significantly impacts both cardiovascular risk and ability to self-manage complex treatment regimens 1
- Past year medical and dental checkups are less common among less educated and never married persons 2
- Hispanic persons less often report past year dental checkups 2
Successful Intervention Approaches
- Community health workers have been effectively used in Douglas, Arizona to connect people to health services 1
- Community Advisory Board partnerships with university prevention research centers have focused on diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention 1
- Evidence-based approaches to physical activity promotion include:
- Creating/enhancing access to places for physical activity
- Using street-scale urban design and land use policies
- Implementing community-scale urban design and land use practices 1
Technology Use in Underserved Communities
- Culturally informed health information technology shows promise for chronic disease management and providing reminders to underserved populations 5
- Social media, cell phones, and videotapes are types of technology that should be used more often to create behavior changes in underserved communities 5
Recommendations for Addressing Health Disparities
- Expansion of healthcare services and providers through incentives for providers to work in designated health professional shortage areas 2
- Leveraging telehealth/telemedicine in rural and urban underserved communities 2
- Risk reduction targeting disadvantaged populations at highest risk may have the greatest impact on health equity 1
- Implementing culturally competent care in all clinical encounters 5
- Increasing use of interpreter services for patients who need them 5
The health status in Arizona reflects national patterns of racial and ethnic disparities, with minority populations experiencing significantly worse health outcomes and access to care. Addressing these disparities requires targeted interventions that account for social determinants of health and cultural factors.