Medical Care and Mortality: Racial Differences in Preventable Deaths

We analyzed deaths of blacks and whites in Alameda County, California where previous studies have documented consistent racial inequalities in health services. We classified each death during 1978 as due to preventable and manageable conditions or as “non-preventable” according to lists compiled by the Working Group on Preventable and Manageable Diseases chaired by Dr. David Rutstein. The total death rate for blacks 0–65 years of age exceeded that of whites by 58 percent (p < .01). Rates of death due to preventable and manageable conditions for persons aged 0–65 years were 77 percent higher for blacks than for whites (p < .01). More than one-third of the excess total death rate of blacks relative to whites could be explained by the excess of potentially preventable deaths. Our findings suggest that inequalities in health services reinforce broader social inequalities and are in part responsible for disparities in health status. Improvements in the health and longevity of blacks and other oppressed groups might be achieved by improved access to existing medical, public health, and other preventive measures.