Phillip December 11, 2025 No Comments

D224 Task 1 Health Disparities Among African Americans in Union City

Name

Western Governors University

E224 Global and Population Health

Prof. Name

Date

Local City and a Subpopulation at Risk

What is the local city and subpopulation under consideration?

This analysis focuses on Union City, Georgia, with a particular emphasis on the African American community living below the poverty line. This subgroup faces increased vulnerability due to economic disadvantages and the related health challenges, which negatively affect their overall well-being and limit access to essential resources.

What is the size of the community and specific subpopulation?

Union City has a population exceeding 27,000 individuals. African Americans constitute the overwhelming majority, representing approximately 85.9% of the total population. This racial group also accounts for the largest proportion of residents living in poverty within the city.

What are the gender demographics?

The gender breakdown in Union City is as follows:

Gender	Percentage (%)
Male	44.7
Female	55.3

What is the racial composition of Union City?

The racial distribution of Union City residents is detailed below:

Race	Percentage (%)
African American	85.9
White	3.9
Hispanic	3.8
Two or more races	3.1

What is the average income and educational attainment?

The average annual income in Union City is approximately $28,110. Regarding education, 88.7% of the population have completed at least a high school diploma, indicating moderate educational achievement levels.

What percentage of the population lives in poverty?

The overall poverty rate in Union City is 12.4%. Among African Americans, those living below the poverty line constitute 6.1% of the city’s population.

What are the crime rates in Union City?

Crime statistics reveal significant concerns across various categories:

Crime Type	Percentage (%)
Murders	13.5
Rapes	22.5
Robberies	35.0
Assaults	69.0
Burglaries	92.0

What are the common occupations in Union City?

Employment in Union City predominantly consists of office-based roles, reflecting a workforce mainly engaged in administrative and service sector positions.

What is the access to healthcare, transportation, and food like?

Transportation: A significant majority (82.5%) of residents commute by driving alone.
Food Access: Approximately 190 food stores are available, providing various grocery options.
Health Insurance: Only 16.8% of the population has health insurance coverage, highlighting a substantial gap in healthcare access.

What are the health and nutrition statistics?

Nearly 48.6% of the population experience health and nutrition challenges, indicating widespread difficulties in maintaining adequate health and nutritional standards.

What environmental concerns affect the subpopulation?

A critical environmental issue for impoverished African Americans in Union City is limited access to sanitation facilities. Poor sanitation contributes to the prevalence of hygiene-related diseases. Additionally, homelessness worsens these conditions by restricting access to stable housing, clean water, and sanitary environments. Georgia’s high cost of living further restricts access to these essential services, exacerbating health risks.

How do the demographics of this subpopulation compare to the broader community, and what health concerns are supported by the data?

African Americans form the majority in Union City but also disproportionately experience poverty. Females aged 55-64 represent the largest demographic group living in poverty, followed by older females aged 75 and above, and those between 35-44 years. The combination of homelessness, food insecurity, and limited access to clean water and shelter leads to poor physical and mental health outcomes. National data show that among homeless individuals, 20% suffer from mental illnesses, and 16% live with conditions such as substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, or heart disease (Hunger, Homelessness and Mental Health: HOPE Is Here, 2021). These social determinants significantly affect the health of this population.

What is one social determinant of health (SDOH) affecting this community?

Low income emerges as a critical social determinant of health that significantly impacts health outcomes within this community. It is linked with increased morbidity and premature death among African Americans in Union City.

How does low income affect health outcomes?

Economic hardship restricts access to necessary health resources, including nutritious food, stable housing, and healthcare services. It also elevates the risk of mental health disorders such as depression, which can escalate to substance abuse and heighten vulnerability to chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these disparities, with African Americans in Georgia experiencing disproportionately high mortality rates, partly driven by preexisting inequalities in healthcare access and socioeconomic conditions (Shannon et al., 2022).

What are the primary community health concerns?

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and chronic illness in Georgia, disproportionately affecting low-income African Americans. Additional challenges include a shortage of healthcare providers and limited health insurance coverage, which restrict access to necessary medical care.

What health issues drive emergency room visits and hospital admissions?

Injuries are among the most common reasons for emergency department visits and hospital admissions in this community (Weiss & Jiang, 2021).

What factors are reducing the quality of life in the community?

The quality of life in Union City is adversely affected by a lack of affordable housing, limited access to healthcare, and insufficient insurance coverage. These factors contribute to persistent health disparities and social instability.

What resources currently support the subpopulation in addressing social determinants of health?

Resource	Description
SNAP	Provides financial assistance for purchasing groceries, improving food security.
Medicaid & Medicare	Offer affordable health insurance to eligible low-income individuals and those with chronic conditions.

What additional resources are needed to address social determinants of health?

Despite existing support programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, Peachtree for Kids, and local food banks, further interventions are necessary:

Educational programs to increase high school and college graduation rates, thereby enhancing employment opportunities and economic stability.
Expanded mental health services targeting depression, substance abuse, and related illnesses to support at-risk individuals.
Investment in education and mental health infrastructure to reduce poverty and improve overall health outcomes in the community.

What evidence-based intervention can address the resource gap in healthcare?

An effective intervention focuses on narrowing the Black-white wealth gap, which perpetuates health disparities. Historical structural barriers have restricted wealth accumulation opportunities for African Americans, impacting their health outcomes negatively. Post-COVID-19 economic recovery was faster among white households compared to Black households, which continued to experience financial hardship (Brookings, 2022). Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive public policy reforms, increased fiscal support, stronger safety nets, and targeted income assistance.

How will this intervention reduce the resource gap?

By closing the wealth gap through policy changes and financial assistance, African American communities would gain improved access to healthcare, education, and stable housing. This would reduce economic stressors contributing to poor health, increase community resilience to future economic downturns, and promote greater equity in health outcomes.

References

Brookings. (2022, March 9). The Black-white wealth gap left Black households more vulnerable. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-black-white-wealth-gap-left-blackhouseholds-more-vulnerable/

Hunger, homelessness and mental health: HOPE is here. (2021, November 8). https://gahope.org/hunger-homelessness-and-mental-health-hope-is-here/

Shannon, J., Abraham, A. J., Adams, G. B., & Hauer, M. (2022). Racial disparities for COVID-19 mortality in Georgia: Spatial analysis by age based on excess deaths. Social Science & Medicine, 292, 114549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114549