This report uses data from various sources to examine the impact of social and economic factors on health outcomes for black men and boys living in Philadelphia.
- Life expectancy is lowest among Black men (69.1 years) compared to any other group – more than 5 years less than other men and 10 years less than women.
- Poorer life expectancy among Black men is largely driven by more premature death from homicides, early cardiovascular disease, drug overdoses, cancer, and infant deaths.
- Hypertension and related illnesses (e.g. kidney disease, heart attacks, strokes, etc.) impact Black men earlier and more often than other racial/ethnic groups. More than 40 percent of Black men have hypertension and nearly 1 in 3 have obesity.
- School-aged Black boys have the lowest rates of obesity compared to other racial/ethnic groups.
- Asthma is a significant source of morbidity for young Black boys, as hospitalizations for asthma are nearly 9 times higher compared to other groups. Asthma is a major cause of missed days of school, likely contributing to educational disparities.
- Gun violence in Philadelphia disproportionately involves Black men — nearly 75% of all victims and known perpetrators are young Black men. Homicide is the leading cause of death for young Black men ages 15 to 34.
- Health insurance coverage is at an all-time high; 9 in 10 Black adults have health insurance, and more than 96 percent of Black children have health insurance coverage.
- Unemployment and poverty rates are declining, while high school, college, and graduate school graduation rates are increasing among Black men.
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- Copyright 2019 by Department of Public Health, City of Philadelphia. All rights reserved.
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