Ep. 77: Food Allergy and Its Impact on the Black Community
How is the black community impacted by food allergies?
Dr. Carla Davis joins Dr. G and Kortney to discuss the impact of social determinants of health on food allergy outcomes within the Black community. Dr. Davis highlights historical factors like redlining and insurance disparities that exacerbate health disparities, resulting in higher prevalence rates of food allergies and multiple allergies among Black patients. These disparities often lead to increased emergency room visits and barriers to accessing allergen-free foods, compounded by socioeconomic challenges and food insecurity.
Dr. Davis also underscores how cultural differences significantly influence the management of food allergies within families, particularly during gatherings, and emphasizes the crucial role of media representation in raising awareness and promoting acceptance.
We discuss the critical need for increased Black representation in research trials, recognizing the challenges posed by longstanding mistrust in the medical community among Black patients.
What we cover in our episode about food allergies in the Black community:
Health Disparities: Social factors significantly impact food allergy outcomes in the Black community.
Limited Healthcare Access: Redlining and insurance disparities restrict healthcare access, worsening health outcomes.
Food Insecurity: Challenges in accessing allergen-free foods are heightened by food insecurities and food deserts.
Cultural Factors in Food Allergy Management: Cultural influences play a crucial role in managing food allergies within families.
Resources for Food Allergies: Essential support from food banks and allergy organizations for managing allergies and food insecurity.
Communication Tips for Patients: Practical advice for effective communication and advocacy with healthcare providers.
Historical Mistrust of the Medical Community: Historical discrimination contributes to mistrust in healthcare, affecting access and outcomes.
About our Guest
Dr. Carla M. Davis is the Chief of the Immunology, Allergy, and Retrovirology Division in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Duke University and completed her residency in pediatrics and fellowship in allergy and immunology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Davis is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with food allergies, focusing on research into the underlying immune mechanisms of disease. She directs the Texas Children's Hospital Food Allergy Program and leads NIH-funded clinical trials, with clinical interests in food allergies, eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, and allergic conditions.
Resources mentioned in the episode and additional information:
Health Disparities in Allergy, Asthma and Immunologic Diseases (New Webinar July 16, 2024): https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/webinars-updates/health-disparities-diseases/
Black People Like Me Virtual Conference Series 2024: https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/trusted-messengers-project/black-people-like-me-2024/
Food Allergy Resources: https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/allergies/
School Plans for Students with Food Allergies: https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/school-plans-students-food-allergies/
Food Equality Initiative - Food Allergy Friendly Food Bank Resource: https://www.foodequalityinitiative.org/
More about terms used in this episode about the impact of food allergies on the Black community:
What are the social determinants of health?
Social determinants of health (SDH) are the outside factors that affect how healthy people are. They include where you're born, how you grow up, where you work and live, and the bigger forces like money, rules, and social expectations that shape everyday life.
Economic Stability: Employment status, income level, and socioeconomic status.
Education: Literacy, access to education, and educational attainment.
Social and Community Context: Social support systems, community engagement, and discrimination.
Healthcare Access and Quality: Access to healthcare services, health insurance coverage, and quality of care received.
Neighbourhood and Physical Environment: Housing quality, access to transportation, availability of nutritious foods, and environmental conditions.
Built Environment: Access to parks, recreational facilities, and safe walking areas.
Social Determinants Across the Life Course: Early childhood development, education, employment, and aging.
Addressing social determinants of health is essential for promoting health equity and improving overall population health outcomes. It involves interventions and policies that address inequities in these areas to create healthier communities and reduce health disparities.
What is food insecurity ?
The state of not having enough access to food or not having food of good enough quality food to meet one's basic needs.
Timestamps
Diagnosing Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
02:04 - Understanding how health disparities are influenced by social factors like where people live and their access to resources.
05:45 - Limited access to healthcare due to differences in insurance negatively impacts health outcomes.
08:20 - Difficulties in finding allergen-free foods are made worse by food insecurity.
12:45 - Important resources such as food banks and allergy organizations help manage allergies and food insecurity.
13:44 - Practical advice for effective communication and advocacy with healthcare providers.
14:30 - Cultural factors that affect how families handle food allergies.
16:21 - Lack of representation of food allergies in media for the Black community.
18:00 - Understanding the legal protections in schools for managing severe allergies.
19:40 - Strategies for patients to seek specialized care for food allergies.
22:00 - Historical discrimination impacts healthcare access and outcomes for Black patients.
24:29 - Involving Black patients in research is crucial for fair access to new allergy treatments.
26:20 - Sharing new treatment information with diverse socioeconomic groups is essential.
27:48 - Redlining affects access to diverse and nutritious foods in Black communities.
29:40 - Tips for making doctor visits impactful and effective.
