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Health Disparities in Health Care

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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 peer, reviewed literature (findings) demonstrates that many minority patients receive a lower quality of health care than whites do, even when all access-related factors are the same. These disparities in health are associated with poorer health outcomes, and therefore, the study committee found it difficult to accept the results. On the other hand, the committee concluded that many factors

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