Black women in the United States experience a high incidence of serious health problems and, as a group, receive insufficient and inadequate medical care. The death rate for black women suffering from breast cancer has increased substantially since 1950. Also of great concern is the high incidence of cervical cancer in low income black women throughout the world. There is a great deal to be done in the area of public education, detection, and health care if the rates of dysplasia and carcinoma are to be lowered. The rate of hypertension for blacks is twice that for whites. Diseases of the digestive system and mental disorders also take the lives of large numbers of black Americans. Data from a 1970 study indicated that black women have been subjected to more contraceptive operations than white women. Black women, low income women, and mentally retarded women have also been subjected to experimental or careless use of potentially dangerous drugs and medical techniques. (Author/AM)