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Race and ethnicity as a social determinant of health
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Health disparities in the united states today
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In the perspective of healthcare, disparities denotes the substantial differences between populations or groups in relation to prevalence, incidence, mortality and morbidity rates. The prospective elucidation for health disparities ranges from dissimilarities in environmental and societal issues that impacts patients’ trust, likings, awareness or self-efficacy, to cultural variances between patients and providers, communication obstacles and possibly, discrimination. These factors can lead to differences in the quality of and access to health care and genetic factors as well deliberated in the circumstance of ethnic or racial disparities. Ethnic and racial minorities and individuals with disabilities are few of the numerous populations influenced by health disparities and this can be engrained in further features such as sexual orientation, gender individuality and discrimination. As of 2013, Even though the life expectancy in the nation has increased, African-Americans have the shortest life expectancy compared to other groups (Disparities in Health and Health Care, 2012). Though African-Americans consist of a moderately lesser fraction of the U.S. population, they habitually undergo a grander percentage of frequency of the various leading health illnesses in the nation. This is all as a result of health disparities. African-Americans have an inclusive incidence of suffering and dying from cancer, have double the rate of infant death than that of Caucasians and a higher risk of death from heart disease and strokes than Caucasian Americans (Davis & Haynie, 2009). In addition, African-Americans record the highest blood pressure rate than any other racial group and are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS than
Large disparities exist between minorities and the rest of Americans in major areas of health. Even though the overall health of the nation is improving, minorities suffer from certain diseases up to five times more than the rest of the nation. President Clinton has committed the nation to eliminating the disparities in six areas of health by the Year 2010, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be jumping in on this huge battle. The six areas are: Infant Mortality, Cancer Screening and Management, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, HIV Infection and AIDS, and Child and Adult Immunizations.
Heart disease is of utmost and imperative concern in the United States. It stands at the top of the list for causes of death in the U.S., and it can be absolutely devastating (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2013). In part one of the health disparities paper, disparity in relation to heart disease was pointed out in those of low socioeconomic status and/or minorities. Part two of this paper has been streamlined towards a more specific minority: African Americans women. The reason for focusing on the African American women population is that there is a huge amount of disparity seen specifically in this group. As of 2009, African Americans as a whole had 30% more of a chance of dying from cardiovascular disease than Caucasians (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health [OMH], 2012). The rate of Cardiovascular Disease in African American women specifically is higher at 48.9% than the rate of CVD in African American men at 44.4%, showing even greater disparity in African American women (American Heart Association, 2013). The goal of this paper is to identify and appraise two different articles surrounding this topic. Both articles involve an intervention in which similar community prevention programs were implemented in hopes to reduce the risk of CVD in African American women.
No citizen shale ever be ignored no matter their race, state of health, or class. In the US “barriers generally stem from forces within the organizational environment of the health care delivery system or within the broader social system itself” (Barr, 2011, p. 273). This is why health policy scholars need to study health disparities so that equal care can ultimately be reached. Currently some disparities that are obvious in society are unequal dispersion and quality of care between racial groups, genders, and those with low middle class income. The health care system needs to be fixed and in order for that to happen health scholars must study better procedures so that the best possible outcome can be reached for the American
Disparities in cancer are caused by the complex interaction of low economic status, culture, and social injustice, with poverty playing the dominant role (Freeman, 2004). So I ask the question: Does socioeconomics impact a man’s prostate health?
In recent discussions of health care disparities, a controversial issue has been whether racism is the cause of health care disparities or not. On one hand, some argue that racism is a serious problem in the health care system. From this perspective, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) states that there is a big gap between the health care quality received by minorities, and the quality of health care received by non-minorities, and the reason is due to racism. On the other hand, however, others argue that health care disparities are not due to racism. In the words of Sally Satel, one of this view’s main proponents, “White and black patients, on average don’t even visit the same population of physicians” (Satel 1), hence this reduces the chances of racism being the cause of health care disparities. According to this view, racism is not a serious problem in the health care system. In sum, then, the issue is whether racism is a major cause of health care disparities as the Institute of Medicine argues or racism is not really an issue in the health care system as suggested by Sally Satel.
The disparities in the healthcare system contribute to the overall health status disparities that affect ethnic and racial minorities. The sources of ethnic and racial healthcare disparities include cultural barriers, geography differences, or healthcare provider stereotyping. In addition, difficulties in communication between health care providers and patients, lack of access to healthcare providers, and lack of access to adequate health care coverage
Healthcare disparities are when there are inequalities or differences of the conditions of health and the quality of care that is received among specific groups of people such as African Americans, Caucasians, Asians, or Hispanics. Not only does it occur between racial and ethnic groups, health disparities can happen between males and females as well. Minorities have the worst healthcare outcomes, higher death rates, and are more prone to terminal diseases. For African American men and women, some of the most common health disparities are diabetes, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and HIV infections. Some factors that can contribute to disparities are healthcare access, transportation, specialist referrals, and non-effective communication with patients. There is also much racism that still occurs today, which can be another reason African Americans may be mistreated with their healthcare. “Although both black and white patients tended not to endorse the existence of racism in the medical system, African Americans patients were more likely to perceive racism” (Laveist, Nickerson, Bowie, 2000). Over the years, the health care system has made improvements but some Americans, such as African Americans, are still being treating unequally when wanting the same care they desire as everyone else.
Racial disparities in The United States health care system are widespread and well documented. Social and economic inequalities between racial minorities and their white counter parts have lead to lower life expectancy rates, higher infant mortality rates, and overall poorer health for people of color. As the nation’s population continues to become increasingly diverse, these disparities are likely to grow if left unaddressed. The Affordable Care Act includes various provisions that specifically aim to reduce inequalities for racially and ethnically marginalized groups. These include provisions in the Senate bill and House bill that aim to expand coverage, boost outreach and education programs, establish standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate practices, and diversify the health care workforce. The ACA, while not a perfect solution for eliminating health disparities, serves as an important first step and an unprecedented opportunity to improve health equity in the United States.
African Americans have a higher prevalence of hypertension compared to White Americans causing a health disparity among these two racial groups. Not only do they have a higher rate but also suffer from an earlier onset, greater severity and more complications compared to White Americans. (HEALS) A health disparity is the difference in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, morbidity and other adverse health conditions that exist between specific groups. (from book) Health disparities are responsible for the imbalance of health conditions in the United States. According to PubMed Health, hypertension is when blood flows through the vessels with greater force than is normal. (PubMed Health) This leads to straining of the heart muscles, increasing the risk for hypertension related health issues. Hypertension doesn’t present its self with signs and symptoms that would alert someone to a health problem. Hypertension is a serious medical condition because it presents its self as asymptomatic, many people don’t know they have it until more serious health issues arise, such as
Socioeconomic Disparities and health are growing at a rapid rate throughout the United States of America. To further understand the meaning of Socioeconomic Disparities, Health and Socioeconomic disparities & health, this essay will assist in providing evidence. Disparities can be defined in many ways, of which include ethnic and racial background and class types that deal with it the most. Due to the low income some individuals receive, they have less access to health care and are at risk for major health issues. Although, ethnicity and socioeconomic status should not determine the level of health care one should receive or whether not the individual receives healthcare.
What can you do in four years? Get a bachelor’s degree, learn to play the piano, have a child, write a book—the potential is enormous. Four years. In the US, the average life expectancy at birth for African Americans is nearly four years less than that of Whites (Kochanek, Arias, & Anderson, 2015). A large contributor to this disparity is difference in health outcomes between Whites and Blacks in the US. For example, African Americans have higher rates of a myriad of diseases than Whites, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, which leads to a shorter life expectancy and poorer quality of life (Sullivan, 2013; Kuzawa & Sweet, 2009). A major mechanism causing this disparity is epigenetic modifications due to psychosocial effects of racism as well as environmental racism, which prevents African Americans’ access to healthy foods while increasing exposure to harmful environmental toxins. The poor health outcomes associated with being Black in America are only exacerbated by institutions that systematically prevent access to quality health care.
Patients who are diagnosed with a mental illness, particularly a serious mental illness, are at risk for disparities in treatment of other medical, non-psychiatric, conditions (Li, et al., 2011). Thornicroft, Rose, & Hassam (2007) stated that much of the general population has a certain ignorance regarding mental illness and tend to make judgments against those who have been diagnosed with mental illness. A social stigma has been placed on those individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness, particularly a serious mental illness, which has been defined as those that fall on the schizophrenia spectrum or some type of mood disorder classified as bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder (Mitchell, Malone, & Doebbeling, 2009). It is the opinion of this author that the carry over of this stigma has extended to health care and the way that mentally ill patients are treated in various clinical settings. Further, this author believes that those with a documented mental illness do not receive the same quality of care that those without a documented mental illness do.
In the United States is Health Care Equally Distributed? The Health Care Industry is one of the largest Social Institutions, made to ensure a communities wellbeing. The issue at hand, Health Care distribution is directly correlated to one’s income. In most cases Health care is often not distributed to those who need it but cannot afford it, and is to those who can afford it and may not need it. Health Care equality can be related to both Conflict and Functionalist Theories.
When I think of the United States and how we are doing as a country, I tend to think that we’re pretty good with all that we do. With all the military protection and technological advancements, the United States seems to be in optimal shape. But when it comes to the wellness of the people and healthcare, I always thought that we were lacking in that department. I decided to use China as the competitor to compare the health statuses and disparities that both these industrialized and well-developed countries differentiate in. In this essay, I will be comparing the life expectancy age, mortality rate under 5 years old, the economy with government aid, along with the obesity percentage of the population and with those that participate in physical activity.
Discrimination and racism continue to be a part of the fabric and tradition of American society and have adversely affected minority populations, the health care system in general, and the profession of nursing. Discrimination may be based on differences due to age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic by which people differ. Whenever debilitated and harmed patients touch base at medical facilities for treatment, they likewise carry with them their unfortunate preferences and inclinations. On the bleeding edge of human services and mending, medical attendants may end up managing patients who incline toward a parental figure who is of a similar race. Patients—or their friends and family—may