According to the assigned article, "Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes," narratives tell the story of the interconnectedness between fear and health. Thematically, the issue of fear is a dominant feature that affects how an individual approaches day-to-day living and health. Explain the relationship between fear and health identified by the researchers in the article. Do you agree that structural violence perpetuates health disparity?
In the assigned reading article, researchers propose that minority populaces are at higher risk for diabetes than the social majority. This risk is directly linked to a decreased sense of educational attainment and high levels of poverty. “There are significant disparities associated with diabetes based on race and ethnicity”(Page-Reeves et al., 2013). These identified risks are associated with common fears among these individuals. There are three magnitudes of fear that the researchers have revealed while interviewing this minority group. As a direct result of this distress, individuals from this minority group are sometimes afraid to approach health care.
The first identified fear is cost. “The fear of cost can be understood as a form of violence that is not something experienced by people who have health insurance or sufficient resources”(Page-Reeves et al., 2013). More often than not, these individuals are uninsured and cannot afford necessary health care. Individuals in the interview stated that they often had to choose between basic needs such as buying food, and seeking health care. This often results in health issues becoming untreated and undiagnosed. This dilemma then unfolds into more problematic health issues, as time progresses.
The second identified fear is language and discrimination. The proper description of signs and symptoms is challenging