...The Department of Health and Human Services (2000), defines health disparities as unequal burdens in disease morbidity and mortality rates experienced by ethnic/racial groups as compared to the dominant group (USDHHS, 2000). The organization asserts that the causes of health disparities are multifactorial which includes poor education, poverty, inability to access health care, limited health coverage ,health behaviors of the minority group, and other environmental factors (USDHHS, 2000). Most of these factors are related to access to health care. According to Cohen (2007), the elimination of health disparities requires attention to the physical, mental, social as well as political context in which health occurs or is threatened...
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...Introduction Despite all the approaches, disparities still exist as one of the major concerns in health and health care today. We made a little progress comparing to the years before in addressing this issue. In addition, the Affordable Care Act offer opportunities to tackle this issue vigorously. I firmly believe that it will be a much bigger issue if we do not eliminate the disparities now it will be very challenging when the US population becomes much more diverse. However, this policy memo addresses this particular issue, summarizes the causes or issues known about health and health care disparities, and provides recommendations and approaches to confront it. Causes Healthcare disparities are references to the differences that exist...
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...HEALTH DISPARITIES Health disparity is defined as inequality in health or the gaps in the quality of health care across races, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Health disparities can also be defined as the significant differences between one population and another. The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000 describe these disparities as differences in the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality or survival rates. Disparity in health is significant among some income, racial, and ethnic groups in America and is still expanding. Many Americans are in poor health and do not receive the best medical care. While these problems affect people of all groups, the challenges are especially acute for racial and ethnic minorities. When there is element of racism, poverty, and problematic community environment converge greater overall threats to health develop. The most powerful causes of health and health disparity are social and economic determinants or the community conditions for health. There are many reasons why disparities in access to of health care exist in our society. A lot of low income people in America cannot afford health insurance and as such they neglect their health. Some people cannot afford money to buy medication. Because these people did not have insurance they lack a regular source of care. African Americans compared to white minority groups are less likely to seek medical care...
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...Health Disparities in the African American Cultures Grand Canyon University February 14, 2016 Health Disparities in the African American Culture Health care disparities affect every group of ethnic minorities. These groups include African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiian, American Indian/Alaskan Natives or multiracial people. Racial and ethnic disparities are one of the many factors that produce inequalities in the health status of an individual in the United States. Whether it is caused by the quality of care, assess to care or insurance coverage. All cause problems for these cultures. In the 2000 census, 36.4 million persons, approximately 12.9% of the U.S. population, identified themselves as Black or African American; 35.4 million of these persons identified themselves as non-Hispanic (cdc, 2012). In 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the United States had almost 38.8 million Black or African American (12.9% of the U.S. population); more than 45.5 million Hispanics or Latinos (15.1%); almost 13.4 million Asians (4.4%); more than 0.5 million Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) (0.2%) and more than 2.9 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AI/ANS) (1.0%) of whom 57% reside on federal trust lands (archive. ahrq,2014). African Americans by both censuses only make up 12.9% of the U.S. population but suffer ethnic and racial disparities at a high rate. This may be due to the lack of...
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...Latangela Stewart SOC -358: Health Disparity Paper 2 April 23, 2013 How Can Diabetes In Low Income African Communities Be Resolved It’s hard to fathom the affects that diabetes has taken in our low income African American communities. Now we have to look at what we can do and have done to help the people who are a part of this health disparity overcome this socioeconomic tragedy. We first have to look at clinical barriers which play a large role on how physicians are interacting with their patients. Even though there are the sociocultural differences between the patient and the provider we have to look at the fact that they both have different health and medical beliefs. With that being known that is where the level of trust has to be obtained. Due to sociocultural difference the physician’s knowledge of the needs of their patients has to be well rationalized. There is an obvious and direct link between these structural barriers and quality of care that remains a fertile area for intervention (Betancourt, Green, Carrillo, & Anaheh-Firempong, 2003). With the racial disparities in the U.S. health care system, there has to be many ways that this health disparity can be prevented. Many low income families feel that they receive the shorter end of the stick when it comes to good decent healthcare. Socioeconomic has it many disadvantages and advantage and what it meant by that is when you are living in a poor rural area; you more likely to be less educated or unhealthy, which...
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...and Alaska Natives health to that of the national average. We will be looking at the current health status of this ethnic group compared to the national average, their definition of Health Promotion, three health disparities affecting this ethnic group, and finally we will see an example of a program that promotes health prevention. Current Health Status of American Indians and Alaska Natives The American Indian and Alaska Native populations make up about 2% of the total U.S. population, numbering roughly 5.2 million, according to the 2013 census. American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), differ from the national average in culture, socioeconomic status, and education. The percentage of AI/AN’s who lacked health insurance in 2013 was 26.9% compared to the 16.6% of the national average (CDC, 2015). They have limited access to employer-sponsored health coverage due to working in low wage jobs and jobs that don’t offer insurance (Artiga, et. al., 2013). AI/AN have the highest poverty rate of all ethnic groups at 0.9% to 1.5% of the total population. This group is more likely to report being in fair or poor health. When comparing their health status to that of the national average, we see that they have a diabetes rate that is twice as high, and chronic liver disease that is three times higher. We can also see that the leading cause of death for AI/AN’s is cancer, whereas the leading cause of death for the national average is heart disease. The current health status of this ethnic...
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...Provide an introduction. The United States (U.S.), health disparities report to be a continuance area of focus among racial, ethnical, and physical disabilities groups than any others (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). Health disparities affected the social and environmental attributes to the sickness of a population (CDC, 2014). More than ever, effort are being made to target the fundamental causes of health disparities in the U.S. One of the underlining causes of health disparities is the lack of access to medical and preventative services. In the U.S. access to adequate medical services, require health insurance coverages in which 42.0 million that of 13.4% of the U.S. population without coverage (United States...
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...Decreasing health disparity in the Hispanic community Grand Canyon University Family Centered Health Promotion NRS-429V-O50 Decreasing health disparity in the Hispanic community About 36.6% of the population in the U.S belong to or identifies as one of the 5 ethnic minority groups. These groups are Native Hawaiian, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, African American or Black, or Pacific Islander. The U.S has the most expensive health care system in the world yet many of these minority groups are worse off in regards to socioeconomic and health care status if compared to white Americans. It is plain to see this health disparity when some communities have death rates comparable to 3rd world countries. As of 2013, according to the U.S Census Bureau, one of the largest minority groups was people of Hispanic origin; they made up about 17% of the U.S population or approximately 54 million people. This group is a rapidly growing set that it is estimated that by 2060, Hispanics would number around 128.8 million people. ("CDC," 2015) x Just like all ethnic groups in the U.S, the Hispanic population wishes to stay healthy, however due to high rates of poverty, this group experiences huge disparity in health care services. In 2012 29.1% of Hispanics lacked medical insurance. ("CDC," 2015) This becomes a problem that leads to another set of problems. Sick people are often diagnosed at a later time, due to lack of medical insurance or funds to access...
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...SES Indicators There are 126 racial and ethnic categories in the US (Winker, 2004). It is a well-recognized fact that many racial and ethnic minorities face unique health challenges and suffer from poorer health outcomes (Dorsey, 2011). The importance of adequately reporting and collecting relevant SES parameters, including race and ethnicity is evident. However, the question of how to properly categorize, measure, and report some of these parameters has been in the center of discussion for some time. In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, The department of Health and Human Services (HHS) came up with the new data standards for the collection of race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status. It is required by law that these standards be used in all the national population health surveys (Dorsey, 2011). The new standards have been in use since November 2011, and their stated purpose is to “understand the causes of health disparities, design effective responses, and evaluate progress in decreasing health disparities” (Dorsey, 2011). With the deepening social disparities and the effect they have on the nation’s health, it is essential to have a well-established system of documentation. It is also important for the researchers to select and appropriately measure all the indicators relevant for their study. HHS’s new data standards include fourteen racial and five ethnic categories, with the option to include more than one category within each group. When...
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...Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations The United States is a Nation of diverse races and cultures. The population of the United States is broken down into two classifications: the majority and the minority. As of 2014 the majority of individuals living in the US classified themselves as white, which is defined as “a person originating from any of the original people of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa”. As of 2014 this group made up 77.4 percent of the US population (USCB, 2014). The rest of the US population consists of many different races, collectively called the minority. The minority is made up of multiple different races, including but not limited to: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander. Healthcare disparities for minority groups in the US are larger than for the majority group; the minority group bears a disproportionate burden of disease, injury, premature death, and disability. For persons of these racial/ethnic minority populations, health disparities can mean lower life expectancy, decreased quality of life, loss of economic opportunities, and perceptions of injustice (CDC, 2004). The Hispanic or Latino race in particular has a larger gap in quality health care and disease prevention than most others. This report will discuss the health status, health promotion...
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...Racism and discrimination are ethnicity-related stressors that can cause poor health outcomes and disparities in health. In comparison to White people, these factors are increasingly associated with an overrepresentation of minority groups (such as African American and Latinos) with persistent health disparities (Myers, 2009). Additionally, African Americans, more than any other minority group, have the poorest health outcomes and disparities. Perceived racial discrimination (PRD), or a feeling that unfair treatment was given based on ethnicity, is reported in higher levels by minority groups than Caucasians (Adam et al., 2015). PRD can cause chronic stress in individuals’ daily lives and throughout their lifetimes. One way of measuring the...
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...Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations Shahla Tehrani Grand Canyon University Family-Centered Health Promotion NRS-429V Dana McKay May 1, 2015 Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations With the advancement of medical technology and increasing self awareness of both mental and physical well being, the health of most Americans has increasingly improved. However, the same cannot be said of the health of American Indians and Alaskan Natives. Health improvements for American Indians and Alaska Natives have not improved, with health disparities still existing in areas such as: infant mortality, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, obesity, cirrhosis and liver disease, arthritis, smoking, and cancer (Indian Health, n.d.). According to the 2000 Census, there are 4.1 million Native Americans/Alaskan Indians in the United States (U.S Census Bureau, 2000). Historically, Native Americans have lived in extreme poverty. The U.S. Census reported in both 1990 and 2000 that poverty still prevails in Native American populations throughout the nation, accounting for 25% of the nation (Selected Population, 2012). There are known health disparities between the Native American population and the rest of the U.S. Some of these disparities exist due to geographic isolation, cultural barriers and economic factors. Health care experts, policymakers and tribal leaders are trying to account for the many factors that impact the health of Indian people...
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...Health disparities among racial and ethnic groups present a complex national issue. ….Health disparities are the differences in frequency, commonly occurring, raising the death rate, diseases that are difficult to bear, and other adverse health conditions or outcome that exists among specific population groups in the United States. …The specific population groups can be based on gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geography, sexual orientation, disability, or special health care needs. Health disparities occur among groups who have persistently experienced historic trauma, social disadvantage, or discrimination. They are widespread in the United States as demonstrated by the fact that many minority groups in the United States have a higher incidence of chronic diseases, higher mortality, and poorer health outcomes when compared to whites.” ( Multicultural Health. n.d., p.14) …The causes of health disparities are due to both voluntary and involuntary factors. Voluntary factors are related to health behaviors, such as smoking and diet, and can be avoided. …Factors such as genetics, living and working in unhealthy conditions, limited or no access to health care, language barriers, limited financial resources, and low health literacy skills are often viewed as being involuntary and unfair, because they are not within that person’s control.”(Multicultural Health., n.d., p.19) From the research reported by the institute of medicine an overwhelming body of evidence in the...
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...Health Promotion Among Black or African American Population [Your Name] Grand Canyon University: Family-Centered Health Promotion(NRS-429V) January 10, 2016 Health Promotion Among Black or African American Population The Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2015) notes that “Starting in 1997, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires federal agencies to use a minimum of five race categories: White, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.” Each minority group differs in health status and disparities and health promotion. In this paper the writer will focus on a specific minority group, the Black or African Americans, and will compare the minority group’s current health status to the national average. Further the author will discuss which health disparities exist in this particular minority group and what health promotion means to them and then will discuss an a approach using the three levels of health promotion prevention that is the most effective given the unique needs of the minority group with an explanation of why it might be the most effective approach. The Black or African Americans make up 15.2% of the total United States population and consists of people of African American, Sub-Saharan African or Afro-Caribbean decent. It is the second largest minority population. The current health status of this minority group is continuing to get...
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...Health Care Disparities: Central of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined heal disparities as “the differences in health outcomes and their causes among group of people.” These differences are closely linked with some racial and ethnic minorities, such as social, economic, and/or environmental (CDC, 2011). Health disparities are the metrics used to measure the health equity, where health equity represents providing qualified health care services for different groups of populations regardless there race, ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and geographic location (Georges, Benjamin, 2015). In the U.S. health care disparities is one of the longstanding health challenges with severe influences not only...
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