Health disparities discussed at CSU

CLEVELAND - Depending on where you sit in society, could determine what kind of health care you receive or the state of your health.

Health disparities exist due to various things like race, ethnicity and socio-economics and have strong implications as to the quality of life. That's according to Roslyn Miller, Director of Community Affairs at the  Center for Community Solutions .

"Health disparities are the differences between how receive and access health care services," Miller said.  "Some of the health conditions that result, for example, certain areas or certain ethnic communities might have stronger incidences of diabetes or heart conditions or cancer."   

Miller added that the disparities could exist because of the access that people have to health services or because of cultural beliefs in receiving services.  

Using the 2008 Ohio Family Health Survey, a public forum was held at the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs on Wednesday morning. The panel included professionals from Northeast Ohio's health and research community. In the audience were Cleveland State University students, health worker and public policymakers.

The goal of the forum was to provide discussion that could help shape local conversation that would in turn help in the development of social policy. 

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Pete Kenworthy is co-anchor of Good Morning Cleveland.  You can follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pete.kenworthy or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/petekenworthy