Minority Health and Health Equity Resources
FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) offers many easy-to-use and culturally-appropriate resources on minority health, health disparities, and related topics. These resources are available to view online, print, or share. Some are available in Spanish and other foreign languages.
Resources by Health Topic
Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, irreversible brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and language skills. Over time, people living with Alzheimer’s disease may become unable to carry out daily activities. African American and Hispanic/Latino populations are disproportionately affected.
Alzheimer's Disease Fact Sheet
Alzheimer's Disease Brochure: Maintaining Mental Function
Alzheimer's Disease Infographics
- You may be at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
- 10 signs of Alzheimer's disease
Consumer Updates:
Download, Save, and Print
Videos:
Watch Out for False Promises About So-Called Alzheimer’s Cures
Other Resources:
Asthma
Asthma is a chronic (long-term) condition that affects the lungs. More than 24 million people in the United States have asthma, and nearly 6 million of them are children. African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos, especially Puerto Ricans, are at higher risk of asthma than people of other races or ethnicities.
Asthma Fact Sheet | En Español
Asthma Brochure: Steps to control your asthma
Asthma Infographic: Over 24 million people in the United States have asthma
Consumer Updates:
Download, Save, and Print:
- Asthma Fact Sheet | En Español
- Asthma Brochure
- Asthma Infographic
- Treating kids with asthma using a Mask, Inhaler, Spacer, and Peak Flow Meter
Other Resources:
- NIH - Asthma
- CDC - National Asthma Control Program (NACP) was created to help the millions of people with asthma in the United States gain control over their disease.
Cancer
Health disparities persist in cancer research despite significant progress in cancer treatment.
Subscribe to FDA's Office of Hematology and Oncology Products Email Updates - select "Oncology Drugs" under the "Drugs" category.
Colorectal Cancer Infographics
Consumer Updates:
- Colorectal Cancer: What You Should Know
- Pancreatic Cancer: Targeted Treatments Hold Promise
- Prostate Cancer: Symptoms, Test, and Treatment
- Skin Cancer Patients Have More Treatment Options
Download, Save, and Print:
- Colorectal Cancer Fact Sheet
- Colorectal Cancer Brochure
- Colorectal Cancer Infographics
- What is colorectal cancer?
- Colorectal cancer screening tests
Videos:
Other Resources:
Chagas Disease
Chagas Disease is a parasitic infection that primarily affects people living in rural parts of Latin America, and about 300,000 people in the U.S.
Chagas Disease Fact Sheet | En Español
First U.S. Treatment for Chagas disease - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval to benznidazole for use in children ages 2 to 12 years old with Chagas disease. It is the first treatment approved in the United States for the treatment of Chagas disease.
Download, Save, and Print:
Other Resources:
- CDC - Chagas Disease
Clinical Trial Diversity
Clinical trials are research studies involving human volunteers to evaluate medical products like medications, vaccines, or devices for safety and effectiveness. Ensuring people from diverse backgrounds join clinical trials is key to advancing health equity.
Clinical Trial Diversity - Participants in clinical trials should represent the patients that will use the medical products. This is often not the case—people from racial and ethnic minority and other diverse groups are underrepresented in clinical research.
About Research Participation - Find information about research and research participation.
Fact Sheet: Clinical Trial Diversity | En Español
Brochure: Research Needs You | En Español
- 4 ways to be a #ClinicalTrialsChampion
- Questions to ask before joining a clinical trial
Drug Trials Snapshots- Find information about who participated in clinical trials for new drugs. Diversity in Clinical Trial Participation- It is important to test drugs and medical products in the people they are meant to help.
ClinicalTrials.gov (an online database of clinical trials managed by NIH) and what you can expect to find.
Consumer Updates:
Download, Save, and Print:
FDA Voices, Interviews, and Outreach:
Videos:
Other Resources:
COVID-19
FDA is working with U.S. Government partners, including CDC, and international partners to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Multilingual COVID-19 Resources
Toolkits:
Videos:
Other Resources:
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that happens when your blood sugar level is too high. An estimated 30 million people in the United States are living with diabetes. About 1 in 4 people living with diabetes don’t know they have it. Diabetes disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities and other diverse groups.
Subscribe to email updates about diabetes - select "Diabetes" under the "Disease and Conditions" category
Consumer Updates:
- How to Safely Use Glucose Meters and Test Strips for Diabetes - Using a glucose meter to check and monitor blood sugars is a daily part of life for millions of Americans with diabetes.
- Fighting Diabetes' Deadly Impact on Minorities - Some minorities are predisposed to diabetes because of a combination of risk factors.
- FDA gives Latinas Tools to Fight Diabetes - Nearly 1 million Latinas aren't aware they are at risk of developing diabetes.
- Making Medical Devices Safer at Home - Patients and consumers are using medical devices more often at home—not just in health care facilities.
- How is Diabetes Treated in Children? - Is your child at risk for type 2 diabetes?
- Beware of Illegally Marketed Diabetes Treatments - If it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam.
Download, Save, and Print:
- Diabetes Fact Sheet
- Diabetes Brochure
- Diabetes Infographics
- A Day With Diabetes
- 5 Ways to Keep your Kidney Health if you Have Diabetes | En Español
Videos:
Diabetes 101
Other Resources:
The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) works with partners to reduce the burden of prediabetes and diabetes, and prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and the complications of diabetes.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) has great resources on diabetes for individuals, health care professionals, organizations and communities.
- Healthy Moments Radio Broadcas t- Get tips on how to prevent and control diseases that are important to the community and NIDDK.
- Healthy Moments Episode: Heart Disease and Diabetes - Tips for lowering your risk of heart disease if you have Type 2 diabetes.
- Healthy Moments Videos - Educational tips from NIDDK on a range of topics, diseases, and conditions.
Racial and ethnic minorities frequently experience health disparities—differences in health that are associated with genetic, social, economic, and environmental disadvantages.
National Minority Health Month (NMHM) 2022
FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity 10-Year Anniversary
Consumer Updates:
Health Fraud
Health fraud refer to products that claim to prevent, treat, or cure diseases or other health conditions, but are not proven safe and effective for those uses.
Subscribe to email updates about health fraud - select "Health Fraud Scams" under the "Recalls and Safety Alerts" category.
Tobacco-Related Health Fraud - All tobacco products are harmful to your health, despite what they taste, smell, or look like.
Consumer Updates:
- Watch Out for False Promises About So-Called Alzheimer's Cures - FDA warns consumers to avoid unproven and potentially unsafe products sold as treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
- Products Claiming to "Cure" Cancer Are a Cruel Deception - Beware of products claiming to cure cancer on websites or social media platforms.
- Some Imported Dietary Supplements and Nonprescription Drug Products May Harm You - Just because a products claims to be natural doesn't necessarily mean it's safe.
Videos:
Watch Out for False Promises About So-Called Alzheimer's Cures
Not All Imported Products Sold as “Supplements” Are Safe
Heart disease refers to several conditions that affect the heart. In the United States, it affects more than 1 in 10 adults and is the leading cause of death for people of most racial and ethnic groups.
Fact Sheet: Heart Disease - Heart disease refers to several conditions that affect the heart.
Subscribe to email updates about cardiovascular disease - select "Cardiovascular Disease" under the "Disease and Conditions" category.
Note Card: Follow the ABCs | En Español - Reduce your risk for heart disease and stroke.
The Journal of Clinical Hypertension: Disparities in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans - African Americans are two to three times as likely as whites to die of preventable heart disease and stroke.
Heart Health and Smoking - Most people think smoking only impacts the lungs. The truth is that smoking can hurt any part of your body, including your heart.
Consumer Updates:
- Controlling Cholesterol with Statins - FDA answers six common questions regarding statins.
- Can an Aspirin a Day Help Prevent a Heart Attack? - That depends. Read more about the pros and cons.
- FDA Strengthens Warnings of Heart Attack and Stroke Risk for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs - Be aware of important safety information for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Have Atrial Fibrillation? Blood Thinners Can Prevent Strokes, Save Lives - If you have atrial fibrillation, you have an increased risk of stroke.
- Medications for High Blood Pressure - Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. Learn more about the medications used to control high blood pressure.
FDA Voice Blogs:
Jovonni Spinner, M.P.H., C.H.E.S., "Stroke Awareness Month: What's New in Stroke Therapies?" (May 2015) Stroke is the leading cause of severe disability and the fifth leading cause of death for all Americans...
Other Resources:
- Million Hearts - The national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over 5 years.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver; it can cause scarring of the liver, cancer, and/or organ failure. The disease affects significant amounts of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders (50% of Americans with Hepatitis B) and African Americans (25% of Americans with Hepatitis C).
Subscribe to the hepatitis email updates - select "Hepatitis" under the "Disease and Conditions" category.
Lecture: Advances in Hepatitis C Treatmen t- (2015) Hepatitis C specialist Dr. Charles D. Howell discusses recent advances in treatment.Consumer Updates:
HIV and Hepatitis: Know Your Status and Learn About the FDA's Role - Health outcomes can be different among diverse ethnic and racial groups.
Faster, Easier Cures for Hepatitis C - Advances in drug treatments help people living with hepatitis C live longer, healthier lives without the virus.
Download, Safe, and Print
FDA Voice:
Other Resources:
- CDC - Viral Hepatitis
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS can affect anyone regardless of sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, gender or age; but certain groups are at higher risk for HIV/AIDS.
Get Tested - National HIV, STD, and Hepatitis testing location database.
Subscribe to the HIV/AIDS email updates - select "HIV/AIDS" under the "Disease and Conditions" category.
Consumer Updates:
- HIV and Hepatitis: Know Your Status and Learn About the FDA's Role- Health outcomes can be different among diverse ethnic and racial groups.
Download, Save, and Print
Other Resources:
HIV.gov - The federal government's leading source for information about HIV.
- National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NBHAAD
- National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #NNHAAD
- National Transgender HIV Testing Day #TransHIV
- National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day #APIMay19
- National HIV Testing Day #HIVTestingDay
- National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day #NLAAD
- World AIDS Day #WAD2018
CDC HIV/AIDS - The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has resources on HIV/AIDS ranging from information for different groups of people, risk and prevention, and testing locations.
AIDSinfo - The National Institute of Health (NIH) offers the latest research and treatment information for patients and providers.
Hypertension
Hypertension (high blood pressure) happens when blood flows through your arteries at higher-than-normal pressures over time. This makes the heart and blood vessels work harder and less efficiently.
Download, Save, and Print
- Hypertension Fact Sheet
- Hypertension Brochure
- Hypertension Infographics
- Steps to prevent high blood pressure
- Limit the American Heart Association’s “Salty Six”—Popular Foods That Can Add High Levels of Sodium to Your Diet
Kidney Disease
African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians are at higher risk for developing kidney failure. This risk is due to the high rates of diabetes and high blood pressure in these communities.
Webinar: Clinical Trials and Kidney Disease- Learn why minorities and clinical trials matters.
Blog:
- American Kidney Fund (AKF) Blog - Voices from the fight against kidney disease.
Podcast:
- American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney News Podcast - ASN's podcast focuses on a range of different topics from new clinical trials to federal and state policy updates.
Other Resources:
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) has great resources on kidneys for individuals, health care professionals, organizations and communities.
- Healthy Moments Radio Broadcast - Get tips on how to prevent and control diseases that are important to the community and NIDDK.
- Healthy Moments Videos - Educational tips from NIDDK on a range of topics, diseases, and conditions
Language Access Plan
FDA wants to ensure that all Americans, including those with a limited ability to communicate in English, can access important health information.
Language Access Program - oversee implementation of the Language Access Plan: an evolving blueprint to provide people with limited English proficiency easy access to health information in a language and manner that they understand.
Consumer Updates:
- FDA Broadens it's Vocabulary - Learn about the new FDA initiative connecting Americans who don't speak English well or at all to valuable, culturally appropriate health information.
Other Resources:
The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) is the world's largest biomedical library, offering resources on a wide range of topics in both print and electronic format.
- Medline Plus - Get access to health information in multiple languages
Lupus
Lupus is a disease that can damage many parts of the body including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain. African American, Latina, and Native American women have the highest rates of the disease.
Let's Take Charge! | En Español - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (HHS OMH) has joined forces with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (FDA OMHHE) to launch the Let’s Take Charge! Campaign, an initiative to make lupus research more inclusive and diverse.
Lupus Infographic | En Español
Consumer Updates:
- Lupus Therapies Continue to Evolve Lupus - Read about new therapies for Lupus.
Download, Save, and Print
Other Resources:
- CDC - Lupus
Nutrition and Obesity
Obesity is a risk factor in several disease. Find FDA resources on nutrition labels, a tool that will help you build a healthy diet.
Labeling and Nutrition - Food labeling is required for most prepared foods, such as breads, cereals, canned and frozen foods, snacks, desserts, drinks, etc.
Changes to the Nutrition Facts Label - Highlights of the final nutrition facts label.
Consumer Updates:
- Nutrition - View full list of nutrition related consumer updates.
- Nutrition Basics Help Fight Child Obesity - With childhood obesity levels at an all-time high, parents, schools—even whole communities—are getting behind the movement to help young people eat healthier.
Other Resources:
- CDC- Nutrition
Rural Health
Rural health is the health of people living in rural areas, who generally are located farther from health care facilities and other services than people living in urban areas.
Download, Save, and Print
Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder in the U.S. It primarily affects African Americans (1 in 365) and Hispanics (1 in 16,300).
Sickle Cell Disease Fact Sheet | En Español
Sickle Cell Disease Brochure | En Español
Sickle Cell Disease Infographic | En Español
Lecture: Update on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patient with Sickle Cell Disease - (2019) Courtney Fitzhugh, M.D. discuss her current sickle cell research and Jennifer, an author, speaker and advocate for chronic diseases will talk about her experience being cured of sickle cell disease and multiple sclerosis through stem cell transplant.
- Lecture: Reversal and Prevention of Organ Damage to Improve Mortality in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease - (2015) Courtney Fitzhugh, M.D. explores new avenues of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation for sickle cell disease (SCD).
Consumer Updates:
- The FDA Encourages New Treatments for Sickle Cell Disease - New Treatments are needed to prevent and treat its serious complications.
- Cord Blood: What You Need to Know - Learn about cord blood, a biological product regulated by the FDA.
Download, Save, and Print
- Sickle Cell Disease Fact Sheet | En Español
- Sickle Cell Disease Brochure | En Español
- Sickle Cell Disease Infographic | En Español
Videos:
Other Resources:
- HHS Office of Minority Health - Sickle Cell Disease
- NIH - Sickle Cell Disease
- CDC - Sickle Cell Disease
Safe Medicine Use
When used as directed, medicines can treat health problems and help you live a long, healthy life. Find information about medication safety and answers to common question about quality and effectiveness.
Note Card: 3 Options for Safe Drug Disposal | En Español - Use a take back-program, flush-it when appropriate, trash-it when indicated.
Generic Drugs: Q & A - Answers to common questions about generic drugs, including appearance, effectiveness, cost, and other related topics.
Generic Drugs Patient Education Resources - Infographics, brochures, handouts, posters, presentations, PSAs, and articles about generic drugs for educators, health care professionals, and consumers.
Consumer Updates:
- Making Decisions for Your Health: Getting the Info You Need - Learn what information you need to make good health decisions.
- Generic Drugs Undergo Rigorous FDA Scrutiny - Generic drugs are as good as brand-name drugs.
- Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health - Do you take a vitamin, mineral, or other supplement as well as a prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication?
Video:
Graphics:
- Postmarketing Surveillance of Generic Drugs - Download a high-resolution, printable PDF of this infographic.
- What Makes a Generic the Same as a Brand-Name Drug? - Download a high-resolution, printable PDF of this infographic.
- Exclusivity and Generic Drugs: What Does It Mean? - Download a high-resolution, printable PDF of this infographic.
Stroke
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious disability in the United States. Racial and ethnic minority and other diverse groups are at greater risk for death or disability due to stroke.
Download, Safe, and Print
Tobacco
Tobacco use can cause premature death and disease. Find information tailored for multicultural communities.
Tobacco - Learn more about FDA's tobacco resources. You and your loved ones can contact the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) with questions about tobacco at [email protected].
Subscribe to email updates about tobacco - select the "Tobacco" category.
Download, Save, and Print
- FDA smoking cessation education materials—support adult cigarette smokers on their journey to quit smoking with free posters in English and Spanish.
- Tobacco Fact Sheets
Fresh Empire
Fresh Empire Campaign - Fresh Empire launched in 2015 with the goal of preventing and reducing tobacco use among at-risk youth
Fresh Empire Campaign Resources - Find fact sheets, social media toolkits, posters, and postcards that help raise awareness about risks associated with tobacco.
Recent Consumer Updates
Jun 10
Infant Formula Supply
Jun 09
Products Marketed for Removing Moles and Other Skin Lesions Can Cause Injuries, Scarring
Jun 02
FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
Jun 02
Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health
Jun 01
Got a Question About Your Pet's Health?
May 31
Infant Formula: Safety Do's and Don'ts
Paragraph Header
Office of Minority Health
White Oak Campus
10903 New Hampshire Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20993
United States