Since time immemorial, elements of cultural differentiation and racism have been major concern for the American society. According to Chow et al. (2003), issues of disparities and inequalities among individuals have been viewed as naturally occurring rather than a consequence of human actions. Nevertheless, when such disparity causes discrimination or segregation in regard to ones’ cultural affiliation or background, then the issue can be painful to the affected groups. In the context public health, mental health and mental illness are a concern to the U.S government. The two, mental health, and mental illness are two points on the far end of each continuum, and the shift along the continuum from one side to the other is affected by a number …show more content…
(2002), in most occasions these health disparities are attributed to a number of socioeconomic issues that are not limited to family income that brings about the issue of poverty and inability to access quality medical care due to high costs and lack of social amenities such as effective transportation and as well as equipped medical facilities. Another factor is the geographical location of these groups, and this is related to the fact that majority of these minority groups reside in very remote areas. This makes access to health care very complicated, for instance, when the element of transportation and physical location of health facilities is put into perspective. Health inequality is also influenced by the language barrier, and this prevent patients’ from communicating effectively with caregivers, thus resulting in poor service delivery. Under the same concept as elucidated by Alegría et al. (2002), majority of minority groups do not speak English and this affects service delivery since majority of caregivers and health practitioners speak English as their first language. This element makes the minority groups to be underserved and limits them from enjoying quality medical care like their English speaking counterparts. Another contributing factor is the cultural effect, and this is evident in situation where patients decline contemporary medical care in favor of traditional and conventional medicine. A case in example is among the Native Americans whose way of life is cemented to their aboriginal customs and traditions, and they tend to look down any form of contemporary medical care. Finally, the most dangerous factor that cause health inequality is the issue of racism and bias based on ones’ racial/ethnical background. This form of bias occurs when some communities or races are favored during the dissemination of care at the expense of others (Chow et al., 2003).
Influence of Culture and Society on Mental
Racial and ethnic inequalities in healthcare results in non-white patients receiving lower quality care that White patients. Additionally, people who speak limited English encounter more communication issues with doctors and nurses that people whose primary language is English. (AHRQ, 2011). Consequently, as people with chronic conditions utilize more healthcare services, they are more likely to complain of issues with the doctor-patient relationship. They feel as though they are not able to participate in their care, their doctors do not allow them to contribute to their medical decisions and they feel like doctors are not disclosing all information related to care. People who encounter this type of cultural ignorance become dissatisfied with their treatment and overall healthcare experience and are at high risk for negative
Health Disparities and Racism is an ongoing problem that is reflected among society. Health is when an individual is physically, mentally and social well being is complete. However health disparities seems to be a social injustice within various ethnicities. Health disparities range from age, race, income, education and many other things. Even though we realize health disparities are more noticeable depending on the region of country where they live in. Racism is one of the most popular factors, for why it’s known that people struggle with health.
Health disparity is one of the burdens that contributes to our healthcare system in providing equal healthcare to everyone regarding of race, age, race, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status to achieve good health. Research reveals that racial and ethnic minorities are likely to receive lower quality of healthcare services than white Americans.
Although ethnic minorities have access to Health Care’s such as GP’s and Hospitals, it does not mean that they get equal care to the White British groups. Pilgrim and Rogers have noted “Black People have different perceptions of services from white users, whether one of mistrust or of cynicism about the quality of treatment they might receive” (Barry,A.M and Yuill, C: 2012) Afro- Caribbean group tend to not see GP’s or other healthcare professions, men tend to just let things health and women tend to use home remedies. In Donovan’s research with Black People’s Health, Men say they do not go to GP’s because they do not like doctors and because of the waiting times. Carlton “I don’t like waitin when I’m sick, I’d rather just go home, sleep it off” (Donovan, J: 1986) Black minorities having a high percentage in mental illnesses, Black people are both over represented in admissions to psychiatric hospitals (Bhui et al. 2003), more likely to be admitted compulsorily and placed in secure units, and more likely to have been in conflict with the police (Barry, A.M and Yuill, C: 2012) Because they are seen as threatening and aggressive. As a result, ethnic minorities not just Black Minorities make less use of psychiatric services than white people. (Donovan, J:
Willie, Charles V., Bernard M. Kramer, and Bertram S. Brown, eds. Racism Racism Racism and Mental Health. N.p.: Univerity of Pittsburgurgh Press, 1973. Print. Contemporary Community Health Series.
The social inequalities that are present in our society are also present in our health care. A person from a minority group who experiences racial discrimination is more likely to become ill. When they do become ill, they will find it more difficult to become well due to the inadequate health care. This explains why racial health disparities exist. Conflict theorist claims that larger social systems are intergraded, but rather separated by race, class, and gender( ____). According to this theory, people are in constant battle between power and
According to the institute of Medicine (IOM), racism is a problem in the health care system, that is, the difference between the quality of health care received by minorities and non-minorities is due to racism. IOM is a nonprofit organization that advises the federal government and the public on science policy. It released a report that on average, minorities receive a lower quality of care, even when factors such as income and type of health insurance are accounted for. The report by IOM states that racial stereotypes and prejudice are the cause of the health care disparities. The article by IOM points ...
Many people believe that racism is no longer present; however, racism is subtly interconnected with many aspects of ever person’s life, including school, upper mobility, access to services and their race many times determine the proper care given by a health care professional. Based on research, racism is interconnected with mental health care. This essay will offer a theoretical explanation that allows social workers a better understanding to clinician’s misdiagnosis of ethnic minorities. Critical Race Theory permits clinicians to purposely or unintentionally misdiagnoses ethnic minorities and will be used in understanding how racism ingrained in the mental health care system.
Williams, D. R., & Jackson, P. (2014, April 1). Health Affairs. Social Sources Of Racial Disparities In Health. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/24/2/325.short
First of all, there are many issues which influence the ethnic inequalities in health whi...
There are many intricate variables when working with diverse populations. One of the ways to improve outcomes is through cultivating a threshold of understanding and tolerance towards the norms and behaviors that are peculiar to cultural factors. A study conducted at the University of Vermont for students in a HR management class confirmed past findings on perceptions, social attitudes, and stereotyped of racial/ethnic groups. For instance, Asians and Whites are perceived positively followed by Whites as compared with African Americans and Hispanics who are more negatively stereotyped. Gender roles also factored as Asian women were more positively depicted along with White men.
Despite the substantial developments in diagnostic and treatment processes, there is convincing evidence that ethnic and racial minorities normally access and receive low quality services compared to the majority communities (Lum, 2011). As such, minority groups have higher mortality and morbidity rates arising from both preventable and treatable diseases judged against the majority groups. Elimination of both racial and ethnic disparities is mainly politically sensitive, but plays an important role in the equitable access of services, including the health care ones without discrimination. In addition, accountability, accessibility, and availability of equitable health care services are crucial for the continually growing
For example, black and white Latinos differences are constant while black health status is poorer than white variety circumstances such as family experiences, community conditions, education, marriage, and work carrier, instead Hispanic immigrants tend to be healthier than United State born Hispanics. Low education level mark negative outcomes to obtain high-quality care or use of preventative services in control high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, absence of health insurance decreases quality of life and place communities in risk for comorbid. For example, Hispanic or Latino population not compline visits health care providers specifically men, the young, people with less education, immigrants, and those who have no
Talented, foreign-born individuals around the world are attracted to institutions in the United States. These people enable a cultivation of innovations, especially in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) areas. For instance, in the pharmaceutical drugs field, seventy-nine percent of individuals are foreign-born inventors, who play significant roles in designing the drug products. Concurrently, the health care system provides services for all individuals. Therefore, promotions for diversity in health professions are crucial because of the nation’s increasing minority community.
Cultural Diversity Project This research paper on cultural diversity has many aspects of traditional, modern, and systemic process in the health care. COMMUNICATION Indian culture is a diverse culture comprising of many casts and languages. Hindi is the national language along with 1652 dialects.