...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...
Words: 646 - Pages: 3
...Investing in healthcare disparities and solutions. INTRO- Healthcare disparities continue to be a major problem in our present-day society, creating uncertainty about access to necessary services and health outcomes. This essay aims to analyze the complicated structure of healthcare disparities while shining a light on the approach to universally fair healthcare outcomes and access. This essay will explore the complicated link between healthcare disparities and how factors such as socioeconomic status, race, location, and differences in cultures affect health outcomes and unequal access to medical treatment. This essay does this by drawing on the information offered by numerous studies. It will address the root causes of healthcare inequality...
Words: 2243 - Pages: 9
...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...
Words: 1037 - Pages: 5
...Reducing health disparities has been one of the challenges to the United Sate Care State. First of all it order to reduce disparities in health care one should not forget the fact that disparities does exist, and then work on to figure out how to reduce it and what are causes behind these. Health care organizations must first understand where disparities exist, the magnitude of the disparities, and why these disparities are occurring within their patient population. There have many federal, state or local policies and programs that have been instituted to help reduce health disparities within the U.S. An important product of the NPA is the National Stakeholder Strategy (NSS), which was released in 2011. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health (OMH) established the National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities (NPA), a “comprehensive, community-driven and sustainable” approach to reducing health disparities nationwide (CITATION...
Words: 470 - Pages: 2
...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...
Words: 1401 - Pages: 6
...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...
Words: 1047 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 983 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 1142 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 697 - Pages: 3
...Reutter and Kushner (2010) draws our attention to health disparities as it is an emerging crisis worldwide. The theoretical article identifies three problems that are prevalent in tackling health inequities: (1) not knowing the difference between health disparities and health inequities; (2) insufficient knowledge regarding policy advocacy and (3) “societal barriers and constraints within the nursing profession” (Reutter & Kushner, 2010, p. 278). Primary Health Care (PHC) is a social justice model conceptualized by Alma- Ata Declaration with the intention of reducing health disparities (WHO, 1978). The purpose of PHC was to achieve “health for all the people … by the year 2000” (WHO, 1978, p. 5). Reutter and Kushner (2010) elucidate that it...
Words: 622 - Pages: 3
...Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION AMONG DIVERSE POPULATIONS Health Promotion among Diverse Populations Beverly Lewis-English Grand Canyon University Family Centered Health Promotion NRS-429V-0501 October 11, 2015 Health Promotion among Diverse Populations “Two- thirds of all deaths in the Unites States are caused by five major chronic diseases; Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic lower respatory disease, Diabetes and Stroke (Fierro, 2006, p. 1)”. While statistics may be useful, it may not reflect the true aspect as it relates to African American Health. Information obtained may be useful in providing measurable data on the disparities that exist among this minority group as it relates to health status and health promotion. Statistics related to death and disease, would provide a clearer understanding of the differences that exist between races and socioeconomically status. This will allow us to evaluate the causes behind the differences and changes that need to be made to improve the health status of African Americans. Unfortunately these differences do not only affect African American adults they also affect their very young offspring’s, newborns. “ In 1198 in the U.S. more than twice as many African American newborn babies died 13.9 of every 100,000 compared to 6 out of every 100,000 white newborns(, ¶ 3)”. This may make one wonder why the vast difference. Prenatal care is a very important aspect that impacts the lives and well-being of the unborn fetus. Obtaining...
Words: 1458 - Pages: 6
...competency in the health sector and reduce health disparities among the ethnic population, the US Department of Health and Human Services have come up with an Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities that organizations in the health sector will have to prepare to incorporate in their own plans. Under this plan, there are five goals listed: 1. Transforming health care; 2. Strengthening the infrastructure and workforce of the nation's health and human services; 3. Advancing the health, safety, and well-being of American people; 4. Advancing scientific knowledge and innovation; and 5. Increasing the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of HHS programs (Jackson and Gracia, 2014). This gives organizations...
Words: 792 - Pages: 4
...Running head; HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES IN AFRICA 1 HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES IN AFRICA OKECHUKWU ONYEIZUGBE DHA8013 Action Research Health Administration 1 Capella University Abstract Objective: To summarize the current literature on racial and gender disparities in critical care and the mechanisms underlying these disparities in the course of acute critical illness. Data Sources: MEDLINE search on the published literature addressing racial, ethnic, or gender disparities in acute critical illness, such as sepsis, acute lung injury, pneumonia, venous thromboembolism, and cardiac arrest. Study Selection: Clinical studies that evaluated general critically ill patient populations in the United States as well as specific critical care conditions were reviewed with a focus on studies evaluating factors and contributors to health disparities. Data Extraction: Study findings are presented according to their association with the prevalence, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes in acute critical illness. Data Synthesis: This review presents potential contributors for racial and gender disparities related to genetic susceptibility, comorbidities, preventive health services, socioeconomic factors, cultural differences, and access to care. The data are organized along the course of acute critical illness. Conclusions: The literature to date shows that disparities in critical care are most likely multifactorial...
Words: 1037 - Pages: 5
...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...
Words: 568 - Pages: 3
...Health disparities are defined as unequal burdens in disease morbidity and mortality rates which are often experienced by the minority racial/ethnic groups. In today’s population ethnic and racial disparities exist for various and intricate reasons, which has grave impacts on an individual’s access to health care. These disparities have been around for several centuries and continue to be problematic despite the little progression being made with the revisions of preexisting health care laws. Laws and regulations are continually being revised to allow further health insurance expansions in hopes to reduce the ethnic and racial disparities for access to adequate care. Even with the increase in awareness, policymakers and clinicians have...
Words: 1320 - Pages: 6
