African-American women

In the United States, African-Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians to experience hypertension. After age 65 years, African-American women have the highest incidence of hypertension. Essential hypertension cannot be cured but can be controlled. Many individuals experience hypertension as they grow older, but hypertension is not a part of healthy aging. For many older individuals, the systolic pressure gives the most accurate diagnosis of hypertension. Display 42-2 discusses the importance of the systolic pressure ... 

Currently, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in both white and African-American women. According to latest reports, of the 662,870 cancer cases reported for women in 2005, 32% were breast cancer. The incidence of breast cancer increased from 1 in 20 in 1960 to 1 in 8 today. More than 100,000 women per year require mastectomy for treatment, and every year 75% decide to have reconstmction. About half the number of these women select prostheses made of silica-reinforced silicone-rubber shell filled with silicone gel, while the other half have the same shell filled with physiological saline. Reportedly, gel-fiUed prostheses feel more natural, but are associated with true or perceived health problems and remain highly controversial. 

For unknown reasons, women are three times more likely than men to have AD. The rates for African-American women may be even higher that those for Caucasian women. 

Nearly one in ten interviewees had never married. As was the case with the survey respondents, there were striking gender differences with females more likely to have never married. These findings are consistent with those reported by Pearson and Earle (1984) in their study of African American and white doctoral scientists. They found that African American women were far more likely than any race-gender group to have never married. 

Although one Cohort III female interviewee agreed that there was a need to increase the number of African Americans in chemistry, she felt uneasy recruiting African American women because of the sex discrimination that she encountered in her scientific career. The interviewee believes that having access to such information may better prepare young African American women to develop more critical coping strategies. 

The focus should not be on historically white colleges and universities alone. Efforts should be made to increase the numbers of African American faculty in STEM fields in historically black colleges and universities. This is a critical factor in increasing the numbers of African American women pursuing doctorates and careers in STEM fields. 

Implications for Research. More research must be conducted on African American women in STEM fields in general, and chemistry in particular. Some extant research indicates that the profile for African American women in science careers is similar to that of non-Hispanic white women. For example, both African American and non-Hispanic white women in STEM careers attended an historically white college as an undergraduate. Future research should systematically examine the similarities and differences between African American women s STEM education and career pathways and those of African American males and non-Hispanic white women. 

Implications for Practice. Research on African American women in chemistry should inform both policy and practice at all points along the education and career pathways. 

Biographical dictionaries Information about famous people Larousse Dictionary of Scientists, Webster s Biographical Dictionary of American Authors, African American Women A Biographical Dictionary, Who s Who... 

In a Wesleyan University study of binge eating disorder (BED) published in 2000, researchers found that African-American women with the disorder reported laxative and diuretic abuse more frequently than white women. However, BED was considered a significant health problem in both racial groups. 

Borrell, L.N., P. Factor-Litvak, M.S. Wolff, E. Susser, and T.D. Matte. 2004. Effect of socioeconomic status on exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlordiphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE) among pregnant African-American women. Arch. Environ. Health 59(5) 250-255. 

L Bernstein University of Southern California Conduct a case-control study which examines the association of serum organochlorine residue levels with the risk of breast cancer among African-American women ... 

It was suggested that the reward system at academic institutions is much more tenuous. Louisiana State University has just graduated 12 African-American women with Ph.D.s, and this has made companies take notice. They are sending interviewers there, because there are people they want to hire. So there is a positive pull. 

The growth and success of the chemistry department in preparing African American women for the workforce, graduate school, and professional school were phenomenal during the next 20 years. A summary of this productivity in the department is evident most notably during the five-year growth period between 1993 and 1997 as summarized in Table 3.2.3... 

I believe that just as Isiah Warner s presence catalyzed a comfort level for African Americans, women faculty role models, rather than spouses, should be doing the same for women students. 

I am going to share with you an essay written in a freshman class by a very polished young woman. The professor was so taken by it that she sent it to me, and I was so touched that I made it the beginning of the first chapter of our book, which discussed successful African American women and their families. This is what she wrote 3... 

Ross-Durow PL, Boyd CJ. Sexual abuse, depression, and eating disorders in African American women who smoke cocaine. J Subst Abuse Treat 2000 18(1) 79-81. 

The statistics are staggering. One-third of Americans over the age of eighteen—65 million—have at least mild hypertension. For African American women, it s half the population, and for black men it s a major problem as well. At least one-third of people with high blood pressure are not being treated. That means millions and millions of men and women are at risk for a heart attack or a stroke. 

Hepatotoxicity is the most important adverse effect of antituberculosis drug therapy. Isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide are the main culprits. There is wide variability in the risk of hepatotoxic reactions reported from different parts of the world or in different populations (for example African-American women in the postpartum period) (SEDA-24, 353). 

African-American women have maternal serum APP and CG concentrations that are 10% to 15% higher than those found in Caucasian women. Adjustment for this difference can be accomplished in two ways. The first approach is to calcu-... 

Since diabetes mellitus is an insidious disorder, testing of asymptomatic patients may be desirable under certain conditions, including age 45 years or older obesity first-degree relatives of diabetics members of high-risk ethnic population (e.g.. Native American, Hispanic, African-American) women who have delivered an infant weighing more than 9 lb (4.08 kg) or have had gestational diabetes mellitus hypertension abnormal lipid studies recurring... 

The incidence of colon cancer is greatest among males, who have an age-adjusted incidence rate of 44.3 per 100,000, as compared to females for whom the rate is 34.8 per 100,000. Cancer of the rectum occurs less frequently the incidence rate is 19.1 and 11.6 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively. Cancer of the colon and rectum is the third most frequent malignancy among U.S. men and white and African-American women, but is second next to breast cancer for Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native, and Asian/Paciflc Islander women. The overall incidence of colon and rectal cancers in... 

PCB exposure is apparently correlated with socioeconomic status. The blood PCB level of inner-city African-American women correlates positively with income45—the higher the income, the more PCBs in their blood. Similar results have been found in the American white population, an apparent reflection of differences in housing and diet. PCBs are one instance in which effects on the middle class are apparently greater than effects on people in poverty. 

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