Comparison of health status indicators in Chicago: Are black-white disparities worsening?

Objectives. This study examined Chicago residents' progress toward the Healthy People 2000 goal of reducing racial disparities in health and compared the results with a recent analysis of US data. Methods. Non-Hispanic Black-to-non-Hispanic White rate ratios were computed for 14 health status indicators for 1990 and for 1998. Results. Nationally and in Chicago, indicators for both Blacks and Whites improved between 1990 and 1998; however, Whites consistently fared better. Nationally, gaps narrowed on 10 indicators; for Chicago, they widened on 10 indicators. Conclusions. Nationally, there is apparent progress in reducing Black-White disparities; this is not true for Chicago. Whether failure to reduce racial disparities is unique to Chicago or is common to other urban centers remains an open question with important implications. (Am J Public Health. 2004;94:116-121).