...Racial and ethnic disparities in health disproportionately affect minority Americans. One of the greatest challenges facing the US healthcare system is the persistence of disparities in infant and maternal health among the different racial and ethnic groups. Now a day a major concern which is affecting communities on overall pertaining to childbirth is preterm births in the United States of America. In fact, preterm births and low birth weight have negative consequences not only for the infants and their families but also on the society. Actual delivery before 37 weeks of gestation is the primary concern and low birth weights have a major impact on the functional domains, such as cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, and hyperactivity disorder (Brooks-Gunn J., McCarton C. M., Casey P. H., McCormick M. C., Bauer C. R., Bernbaum J. C., Tonascia J. (1994). Babies who weigh 5.5 pounds (2500grams) or less at birth are low babies with low birth weight. Babies weighing 3.3 pounds (1500 grams) or less are Very low birth weight babies. There is a significant medical and social cost for low birth weight infants and preterm births. Low birth weight is a major predictor of infant mortality. Ethnic and cultural group’s disparities related to low birth weight infant and preterm infant are significantly disproportionate, affecting minority Americans. Although infant morbidity cannot be directly linked with low birth weight but it is a frequently used as a marker for poor health at birth because...
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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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...likely to die as infants, have higher rates of diseases and disabilities, and have shorter life spans. As the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration work toward enactment of legislation to reform America’s health care system, a central focus of the debate has been the projected cost of ensuring accessible and affordable health care to every citizen. While some have struggled with the premise that health care reform can actually reduce health-related spending, the experience of racial and ethnic minorities under our current health care system is a strong indication that improving opportunities for good health – and minimizing inequities in health care access and outcomes – may well be good for the nation’s fiscal health, as well. This study, commissioned by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and carried out by leading researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, provides important insight into how much of a financial burden racial disparities are putting on our health care system and society at large. The researchers examined the direct costs associated with the provision of care to a sicker and more disadvantaged population, as well as the indirect costs of health inequities such as lost productivity, lost wages, absenteeism, family leave, and premature death. What they found was striking. More than 30 percent of direct medical costs faced by African...
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...Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the U.S. Healthcare Delivery System Alden Knight Health Services System – HSM541 DeVry University, Keller Graduate School of Management August 10, 2013 According to HHS when it comes to racial and ethnic disparities, they identify the lack of insurance as a significant driver of healthcare disparities. Lack of insurance, more than any other demographic or economic barrier, negatively affects the quality of health care received by minority populations. Racial and ethnic minorities are significantly less likely than the rest of the population to have health insurance. They constitute about one-third of the U.S. population, but make up more than half of the 50 million people who are uninsured (HHS 2011). Unfortunately, it has a negative impact on the U.S. healthcare delivery system. Primary care is the most important part of the health care system. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality or the AHRQ, about 30 percent of Hispanic and 20 percent of Black Americans lack a usual source of health care compared with less than 16 percent of whites. Also, Black Americans and Hispanic Americans are far more likely to rely on hospitals or clinics for their usual source of care than are White Americans (AHRQ 2013). The American Hospital Association or the AHA has convened the Special Advisory Group on Improving Hospital Care for Minorities as part of ongoing...
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...be presented. Multifactorial barriers limiting health, and the overall factors affecting health within this population are identified. Current health status will be presented including health promotion and disparities among this US population. Primary, secondary, and tertiary health promotions will be discussed along with one approach to promoting health offered. According to the office of Management and Budget’s “American Indian or Alaskan Native” refers to one who has origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America, and maintains ties and connections to a tribe or tribal community (United States Census Bureau, 2010). Results of the 2010 census revealed there were 5.2 million people or 1.7 percent of the population who were Native American/ Alaskan Native. Chronic diseases and risk factors among AI/AN groups remain high. When compared to white populations AI/ANs are more likely to have diabetes and high blood pressure, be obese, and smoke cigarettes ( Centers for Diseas Control, 2015). The death rates from heart disease is 20 percent greater and from strokes are 14 percent higher than all United States races (Centers for Disease Control, 2015). Diabetes affects 16 percent of the population of AI/AN ethnic groups which is more than twice that of the white population and their life expectancy is five years less than the national average (Dee M. Baldwin, 2003). Childhood obesity is at an alarming rate of 39 percent...
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...country is not something we should ignore; rather use it as a tool of understanding the African American culture. Their perception of healthcare and their willingness to seek help could be linked to the fear of social discrimination and the possibility of being treated differently if the healthcare providers are predominately white. The health disparities among African Americans today is something that cannot be ignored and is something that healthcare professionals need to take seriously. This paper will talk about the health disparities among African Americans and how we can make change to this by approaching the problem with health promotion and prevention techniques. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015, the population of African Americans is estimated to be a 45 million; which is 15.2 percent of the United States population. Around 14.7 percent of the African American populations are shown statistically to live in fair or poor health. This particular race is known to suffer from high incidences of Heart Disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, poverty and high crime rate. All of these health disparities are either the cause of genetic predisposition, lack of education or financial issues. Healthcare providers need to be aware of this minority groups disadvantages and be able to promote health with these patients and educate them so they can properly prevent future complications. Such complications can go as far as End Stage Renal Disease which...
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...Accessing Healthcare Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) Iowa Danielle Fisher HCA 430 Prof. Jon Lasell April 2nd, 2012 With the many different vulnerable populations out there in the United States, the one that needs the most look after are people with alcohol or substance abuse. With the way that some people live day to day, it is hard to keep track of people who need help in the areas of drug abuse. Where I live, in Cedar Rapids Iowa, there is the Area Substance Abuse Council (ASAC) that helps people receive substance abuse treatment services that they need. The services that they provide are substance abuse treatments and the halfway housing which helps monitor people with heavy drug abuse problems. The type of care that is provided at the ASAC is the following: residential short-term treatment, residential long-term treatment, outpatient, and partial hospitalization/day treatment. For the ASAC the strengths to the program are its ability to adapt to different cases of people with drug abuse problems seeking help needed for their situation. Among the many different things that they have for common drug users, there are also special programs and groups that are provided as well. Adolescents, persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders, pregnant/postpartum women, women, residential beds for clients' children, DUI/DWI offenders, and criminal justice clients are all the special groups that can be found there. Not everyone who is dealing with the...
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...in the United States today. Three of the most difficult issues include diseases, health disparities and paying for health care. As we are capable of preventing diseases through preventive medicine and advanced technology, the mortality rate of the United States will continue to decline. Although this may be true, macro trends such as illnesses, diseases, injuries, and population groups are of concern. “Differential morbidity and mortality between men and women, among different ethnic groups, in different age groups within the population, by geographic region, and in other important population comparisons raise red flags about our limited successes for certain populations, and the challenges that we face” (Torrens & Williams, 2009). Health concerns such as hypertension, obesity, injuries and chronic diseases surround individuals in the United States today, regardless of their race, gender, income status or geographical location. Although a steady income, health insurance and access to care may exist for some individuals across the United States, health disparities are still clearly seen. “Many factors contribute to racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic health disparities, including inadequate access to care, poor quality of care, community features (such as poverty and violence) and personal behaviors” (NCSL, 2012). Due to the United States having a health disparity, it has contributed to an additional $229.4 billion in medical expenses between 2003 and...
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...1 HEALTH DISPARITIES 2 The Health of Hispanic and Latinos Health disparities in the diverse American demography creates challenges in the overall health status of ethnic minorities. Tragic disadvantages on obtaining optimal health care can be linked to variables such as being from a specific socioeconomic status, race, geographic location, age, gender, mental health, genetic background, or having a disability. This injustice on how health care is being provided is debilitating for patients and the communities that they live in. Statistics Reviewing the statistics for Hispanics in the community against other groups indicates that the overall health of ages is fair or poor health in 9.6% of the population (National Center for Health Statistics, 2015). Another alarming statistic is that 16.4% of men and 7.4% of woman above 18 smoked cigarettes (National Center for Health Statistics, 2015). The rate of people under the age of 65 who did not have health insurance was over 25.5 percent (National Center for Health Statistics, 2015). Many of the diseases in the top categories that caused death in this population were cancer and heart disease (National Center for Health Statistics, 2011). Ethnic Disparities The racial ethnic disparities was greatest in both income and education for Hispanics and Non-Hispanic American Indians/ Alaskan Natives in the year 2011 (Disparities in Healthcare Quality Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups, 2014). Hispanics struggle...
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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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...Racial Disparity in U.S. Diagnoses of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 2000 –2009 Qian An, MS, Joseph Prejean, PhD, H. Irene Hall, PhD This activity is available for CME credit. See page A3 for information. Background: Increased attention has been focused on health disparities among racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. Purpose: To assess the extent of progress toward meeting the targets of Healthy People 2010 objectives and eliminating disparities. Methods: All diagnoses of AIDS during 2000 –2009 among people aged Ն13 years in the 50 states and District of Columbia, reported to national HIV surveillance through June 2010, together with census population data were used in this analysis (conducted in March 2011). This study assesses the trend in racial/ethnic disparities in rates of AIDS diagnoses both between particular groups using rate difference (RD) and rate ratio (RR) and across the entire range of racial/ethnic subgroups using three summary measures of disparity: between-group variance (BGV); Theil index (TI); and mean log deviation (MLD). Results: The overall racial/ethnic disparity, black–white disparity, and Hispanic–white disparity in rates of AIDS diagnoses decreased for those aged 25– 64 years from 2000 to 2009. The black–white and Hispanic–white disparity in rates of AIDS diagnoses also decreased among men aged Ն65 years; however, the black–white disparity increased among young men aged 13–24 years (BGV: pϽ0.001, black–white RD: pϽ0.01) from...
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...To have a more cultural 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...
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...Healthcare disparities This article entitled; Racial and ethnic disparities in health care, updated 2010, written by American College of Physicians, presents the reality of the racial and ethnic disparities in health care and made some recommendations to reduce this gaps. Although improvements have been seen in health care quality and some disparities have been reduced or eliminated, differences persist in health care quality among members of various racial and ethnic minority groups. Irrefutable evidence indicates that racial and ethnic minorities are subject to quality care less healthy than white Americans, even when factors such as insurance status are controlled. Since the population continues to grow and diversify the health care system must change and adapt to meet the needs of a patient more and more multicultural. In 2003, the American College of Physicians, which is now the greatest medical specialty society in the United States with physicians and medical student members, published racial and ethnic disparities paper Healthcare (www. acponline.org / ppvl / policies / e000904.pdf). The document provides some recommendations on how the gap between patients’s racial and ethnic minorities and their white counterparts can be reduced. Unfortunately, even though progress has been achieved in some areas the question of the racial and ethnic disparities remains a difficult and complex problem to tackle. This update of the 2003 document adopts recommendations that still...
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...Diverse Populations The Latino population in the United States is expected to increase from 31 million (11% of the population) to 59 million (18% of the population) by 2025. (Betancourt, Carrillo, Green, & Maina, 2004, p. 16) The term Latino refers to a very broad group with distinct nationalities, religions, degrees of naturalization and socioeconomic status. This ethnic group includes any person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. According to the 2012 U.S. Census Bureau population estimate, there are almost 53 million Hispanics living in the United States. This group represents 16.9 percent of the U.S. total population. Another significant point is that in 2012, 33.2 percent of Hispanics were under the age 18 in comparison to 19.7 percent of non-Hispanic Whites. ("Hispanic/Latino Profile," 2015, para. 1) The health disparities faced by many Latino’s are a result of a number of complex interrelated factors: Insurance, Language Fluency, and Educational Level. Latinos have the highest uninsured rates of any racial or ethnic group within the United States. One quarter of the nation’s 44 million uninsured are Latinos. Of these 44 million, 9 million have at least one family member who is employed. (Betancourt et al., 2004, p. 17) In the past five years, Medi-Cal has changed their criteria for application and approval process. The county’s insurance ACE has also followed suit and imposed...
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...and equal for all people. Population health calls for managing health promotion, prevention, and screening. Population health seeks to ensure everyone has access to the same quality of healthcare. Its strives to make sure all who receive health care are able to understand the care that is given are provided with resources to receive the appropriate care. Three major areas are the focus of health disparities: differences in access and services for use, within and across facility difference, and the socioeconomic status. Differences in access are based on location, lack of source for care, and lack of insurance. Within and across facility difference deals with the handling and redirecting of resources based on ethnic/racial group. Population health strives to make certain no one goes lacking in care because of the inability afford health insurance to get to health care appointments (Dynan, 2009). The National Institute of Medicine published Unequal Treatment: Confronting Ethnic and Racial Disparities in Health Care to raise awareness and concern surrounding these disparities. 1. Discuss how population health help support state and national interventions that address health needs. References Dynan, L. (2009). The...
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