Black Women's Health Issues

Selected resources about:

Black Women's Health Issues

Created: 2004 - Updated: July 17, 2008

The Black Women’s Health Council urges women to schedule an appointment with their primary care provider for a ‘check-up’ and health screenings. Through a focus on research, education, outreach and self-empowerment, the Black Women’s Health Council seeks to improve the overall health and well being of the culturally and ethnically diverse community of Black women residing in the Greater Hartford area.

Black Women have unique health issues and concerns. This resource list is directed towards these unique needs. The first section contains links to the Hartford Public Library’s books and magazine articles available through any one of our nine neighborhood branches or Library on Wheels. To place an item on hold, call 695-6295 or visit our catalog on the Web at http://www.hplct.org/. If you are viewing this online, you may also click on the highlighted links below to obtain more information.
The second section offers links to local agencies and organizations, while the next provides links to reputable Websites that focus on Black Women’s health. Some of these sites provide health information for the consumer. Some also provide statistical data. Each Website has been checked for authority and reliability. The next section links to full-text government documents. We have included several links to Spanish language sites.

Books|

	Dr. Ro's 10 secrets to livin' healthy / Rovenia Brock. RA778.4.A36 B76 2004
	The Black woman's guide to Black men's health / by Andrea King Collier And Willarda V. Edwards. RA777.8 .C63 2007
	Body & Soul: the Black Women's Guide to Physical Health and Emotional Well-being / Linda Villarosa, editor. RA778 .B6 7
	Born Beautiful: the African American Teenager's Complete Beauty Guide / Alfred Fornay. RA778.4 .A36 F67 2002
	Daily Cornbread: 365 Secrets for a Healthy Mind, Body, and Spirit / Stephanie Stokes Oliver. RA778.4 .A36 O43 1999
	Livin' large : African American sisters confront obesity / Stacy Ann Mitchell and Teri D. Mitchell. RC628 .M57 2004
	The Black woman's guide to menopause: doing menopause with heart and soul / Carolyn Scott Brown, with Barbara S. Levy. RG186 .S414 2003
	Hungry for more : a keeping-it-real guide for Black women on weight and body image / Robyn McGee RC628 .M374 2005
	It's a Sistah thing:a guide to understanding and dealing with fibroids for Black women RC280.U8 B76 2002
	Like a Natural Woman: the Black Woman's Guide to Alternative Healing / Ziba Kashef. R733 .K28 2001
	Prime time : the African American woman's complete guide to midlife health and wellness RA778.4.A36 G37 2001

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Periodical and Newspaper Articles

The Hartford Public Library offers electronic access to articles through its iConn database service for patrons of Connecticut libraries. You will need your library card to log into the database. Use the Health and Wellness Resource Center for more articles.

Look under African American Women - Health aspects in a subject search to find over 300 articles.

Below are several articles that deal with specific health issues.

A Challenge for Leaders; Crisis: The devastating impact of AIDS on black communities demands a much stronger response at all levels.(Cover story). Ellis Cose.
Newsweek (May 15, 2006): p49.

Diabetes & cereal intake.(FOOD for thought)(Brief article).

Diane Lofshult.

IDEA Fitness Journal 5.3 (March 2008): p62

Genes load cancer dice against black people. (This week: International news and exclusives).

Peter Aldhous.

New Scientist 198.2652 (April 19, 2008): p8(1).

Heart disease: the no. 1 killer of Blacks.

Lynette Holloway.

:Ebony 60.4 (Feb 2005): p146(3).

HIV and genital herpes .(Health Hotline)(Brief article).
Ebony 61.9 (July 2006): p64(1).

How To Deal With The Major Killers (diseases in black women) (Brief Article) Ebony
Oct 2001 v56 i12 p54

A Journey to Wellness is an online magazine devoted to African-American wellness.

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Local Resources: Agencies, Organizations and Information

Black Women's Health Council - a grass-roots non-profit organization in Hartford.
Contact: tel: (860) 522-1111 ext. 325 fax: (860)722-2486

Connecticut Women's Health Campaign
Permanent Commission on the Status of Women
18-20 Trinity Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: (860) 240-8300 Fax: (860) 240-8314
E-mail: pcsw@po.state.ct.us
The Campaign’s goal is to improve the health of Connecticut women. Some areas of focus include violence against women, women and HIV/AIDS, women and heart disease/stroke, and addictions and substance abuse.

Hartford Hospital – A Woman's Life Newsletters
80 Seymour Street
Hartford, CT 06102
Phone: (860) 545-5000
Fax: (860) 545-5066
The page includes information on the following topics:
AIDS
Birth Control
Breast Health
Childbirth
Fertility/Reproductive Medicine
Information for Teens
Mental Health
Neo-Natal ICU
Pregnancy
Preventive Health Care
Women's Health Concerns

Urban League of Greater Hartford
140 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06132
Phone: (860) 527-0147
Fax: (860) 249-1563
Contact: Thomas Jordan, ext. 136
Hours: M-F: 9am-5pm
Programs aim to assist African Americans to achieve social and economic self-efficiency. The organization also manages the Minority AIDS Prevention Project.

Women and Children's Services
Saint Francis Care
114 Woodland Street
Hartford, CT 06105
Phone: (860) 714-4000
The Center serves as a starting point for research about women’s health issues.

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Websites

WomensHealth.Gov Includes links to health topics of special concern to African American women.

Factline: Tracks health in underserved communities and has a section devoted to minority and women's health.

Healthfinder is a reliable guide to health information with one component targeted at Black or African Americans.

Medlineplus Health Information is a database maintained by the National Institutes of Health. The section on African American Health has a sub-section on African American women and their special needs.
The Office on Women’s Health – U.S. Department of Health and Human services – African American Women's Health identifies major health conditions that should be of concern to Black Women. The Website also has links to other reliable information resources.

Office of Minority Health - The mission of OMH is to improve the health of racial and ethnic populations through the development of effective health policies and programs that help to eliminate disparities in health.

Español
Salud de los africanomericanos.
Salud de las mujeres.
la Oficina de Salud de las Minorías
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Government Documents

HIV/AIDS among Minority Women This fact sheet presents fact and suggestions of what you can do to prevent HIV/AIDS infection.

Be Smart About Your Heart. Control the ABCs of Diabetes: A1C, Blood Pressure, and Cholesterol This is a two page fact sheet which explains the link between diabetes and heart disease.

Control Your Diabetes For Life. Tips for Feeling Better and Staying Healthy This patient education booklet provides an action plan for diabetes control that includes tips on knowing blood glucose levels, reaching blood glucose goals, and maintaining blood glucose control.

A Breast Cancer Resource Guide for Minority Women This is a guide developed by the Office of Minority Health Resource Center with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides information about cancer programs, breast self-examination, statistics, risk factors and additional resources.

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