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Racial Disparity Prevalent in Missouri Health Care COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - Racial and ethnic health disparities are increasing in Missouri. A number of state healthcare leaders gathered today on MU's campus to discuss the issue, and are saying not enough is being done to address the disturbing trend. KBIA's Boris Korby has the story.


Will Ross says he's hesitant to call the country a nation of cowards. But speaking at a health conference today, his point was clear.

When it comes to addressing racial and ethnic health disparities, the board chair of the Missouri Foundation for Health says stronger action is needed, and needed now.
According to data released by the Missouri Foundation for Health, African-Americans are 2.3 times as likely to receive inadequate prenatal care than whites.

They are 8 times more likely to contract HIV.

30 times more likely to contract Gonorrhea and 4.5 time more likely to be the target of sexual abuse. Here's Ross.

"We have not been bold enough. We have for reasons that are sometimes ideology, we state that these are issues that are unique to this population, and that we can't generalize this to all of Missouri. Well I'm saying these are Missouri problems. They're not an African-American or Latino problem, they're not an urban or rural problem, they're Missouri problems, and we have to put all our resources to address these."

Health Policy Analyst Ryan Barker says access to care is at the root of the state's health divide.

"The causes of disparities, 20 to 60 percent of the cause is people not being able to access health care, so universal coverage or increasing coverage for people is probably the biggest thing we could do to address health disparities in the state."

But like Ross, he says he doesn't see the status quo addressing Missouri's health disparities.

Almost 60 organizations representing national and local mid-Missouri programs gathered at MU's Reyonld's Alumni Center for the one-day conference.
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