Improving Health Access and Equity for Black Men: Addressing Structural Barriers and Social Drivers

Access to health insurance and regular primary care plays a crucial role in enhancing healthcare access, improving service quality, reducing healthcare costs, and potentially narrowing health disparities (Lee et al., 2023). Having a consistent primary care provider (PCP) is particularly significant as PCPs offer integrated services and foster enduring patient relationships, which can lead to better health outcomes (Lee et al., 2023).

Black men serve as a poignant example for exploring how social determinants impact health, given the well-documented structural barriers they face at the intersection of race and gender (Griffith, 2012; Griffith et al., 2013; Griffith et al., 2021; Griffith et al., 2011; Griffith et al., 2010; Griffith, 2019; Jack & Griffith, 2013). These barriers have resulted in longstanding disparities in healthcare access between Black and White men. Black men also exhibit higher healthcare needs, lower rates of insurance coverage, and less healthcare utilization compared to their White counterparts (Griffith, 2019; D. Watkins, 2017).

These entrenched disparities disproportionately impact the Black community, affecting life expectancy and reflecting broader social determinants of health—factors influencing where we live, work, play, age, and worship (Allana et al., 2022; Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014; Bruce et al., 2015; Caraballo et al., 2023; Catalyst, 2017; Cockerham et al., 2017; DHHS, 2021; Embrett & Randall, 2014; Flaskerud & DeLilly, 2012; Treadwell et al., 2012).

By addressing these structural barriers and understanding the impact of social determinants, we can work towards improving healthcare access and equity for Black men. Ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and fostering relationships with PCPs are crucial steps towards mitigating disparities and achieving better health outcomes within this vulnerable population.