Life
Black Beauty Shop Health Outreach Program Headed by Dr. Didra Brown Taylor
Dr. Didra Brown Taylor. PHOTO/drdidrabrowntaylor.com
Dr. Didra Brown Taylor partners with black owned beauty shops across the country to address health disparities in African American women.
(PRWEB) – Of all minority groups, African-Americans have the most, and many times the largest, differences in health risks when compared to other minority groups. African-Americans have more disease, disability, and early death as well. African American women are becoming more at risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes. Yet, both can be prevented.The Black Beauty Shop Health Outreach Program, headed by Dr. Didra Brown Taylor, has taken on the challenge to address health disparities among African American women, right where they are, in the beauty shop.
The Black Beauty Shop Health Outreach Program is a natural outgrowth of the overwhelming national success of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program, which to date has screened over 37,000 men for diabetes and high blood pressure.” The Black Beauty Shop Health Outreach Program was officially launched on August 28, 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with Congressman Alcee Hastings with over 15 barbershops and beautyshops participating in the screening effort”, states Dr. Bill Releford, founder of the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program and co-founder of the Black Beautyshop Health Outreach Program.
About African American Women and Their Health
African American women are more at risk than other American women, even other minority groups for chronic, debilitating disease and catastrophic illness according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social determinants, including institutional barriers, discrimination, inadequate access to health care, poverty, lack of insurance, lack of accessible prevention programs, lack of health education and outreach programs in impacted communities, socio economic factors, cultural differences, unhealthy behaviors, higher rates of poverty, incarceration and inadequate housing as well as inadequate ethno centered research all compound the alarming rates of preventable morbidity and mortality among African American women.
Black owned beauty shops have historically been a gathering place and safe haven for African American women. We have long standing traditions of using the black beauty shop as a one stop information highway and cultural center. This is where we literally and figuratively let our hair down and bear our souls. It’s a sacred place where the bond between stylist and client is often stronger and more respected than that between family members. It’s a place where woman to woman, we share our hopes, dreams, frustrations and fears. It’s a place where African American women go for validation, information and referrals.
About the Black Beauty Shop Health Outreach Program.
