A new Statistics Canada report highlights significant health disparities between Black Canadians and their white counterparts. Analyzing data from Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 19 and older from the 2001, 2006, 2011 , and 2019 censuses, the report reveals that Black Canadians face increased mortality rates from several serious health conditions.

Black males are found to be at a higher risk of dying from HIV/AIDS, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular diseases compared to white males. The risk of HIV/AIDS-related deaths among Black males is 2.37 times greater than for white males. For Black females, the report identifies an elevated risk of dying from six conditions: HIV/AIDS, stomach cancer, corpus uteri cancer, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, diabetes mellitus, and endocrine disorders. Black females face a particularly high risk of HIV/AIDS-related deaths, being 6.05 times more likely to die from this condition than white females.

The report attributes these disparities to various factors, including health inequities, differential adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and treatment delays. Structural racism and social determinants of health are also noted as contributing factors. Limited knowledge of HIV within African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities exacerbates these issues. There is a call for better engagement with ACB communities and greater awareness of available resources and preventative measures.

Additionally, the report discusses the role of discrimination as a significant health determinant. Black individuals are more likely to experience discrimination, which is associated with chronic conditions and risk factors such as smoking, binge drinking, and limited physical activity.

Josephine Etowa, a full professor at the School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa, said structural racism and the social determinants of health contribute to the disproportionate impact of HIV on African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) people in Canada.

Despite these specific health risks, the report finds that overall, Black males have a 25 percent lower risk of dying from all causes combined compared to white males, while Black females have a 22 percent lower risk compared to white females. This lower overall risk may reflect some positive aspects of health outcomes, despite the higher risks for specific conditions.

Healthcare system inequalities are also a major concern. Dr. Doreen Ezeife, a medical oncologist, emphasizes that systemic inequalities impact Black patients differently, often leading to less engagement with healthcare services. Distrust in the healthcare system, compounded by a lack of representation among healthcare providers and difficulties in accessing specialists and medications, contributes to these disparities.

The report also highlights the challenges posed by inadequate race and ethnicity data in Canadian provinces, which makes it difficult to identify and address specific gaps in healthcare. The need for more detailed and current data is stressed to better understand and address the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes among different racial groups.

Overall, while the Statistics Canada report sheds light on critical health disparities, it also calls for improvements in data collection and systemic reforms to address the identified inequities and improve health outcomes for Black Canadians.