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
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.
Cobb, Torry Grantham, DHSc, MPH,M.H.S., P.A.-C. (2010). STRATEGIES FOR PROVIDING CULTURAL COMPETENT HEALTH CARE FOR HMONG AMERICANS. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 17(3), 79-83. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezp-01.lirn.net/docview/750318474?accountid=158556
According to Penner et al. (2013), there are various causes of healthcare disparities, such as socioeconomic status; this results to poor healthcare services for people with low socioeconomic status, as people with low pay find it difficult to leave their work to seek healthcare help, or to afford healthcare insurance (p.4). The second cause is language proficiency. The language barriers faced by the immigrant plays a role in the healthcare disparities among the racial or ethnic minority patients. Another cause is health literacy. The levels of the health literacy among the foreign born individuals can be influenced by their higher level of distrust of the healthcare providers and healthcare system than they have towards Caucasian people. This, in turn, leads them to seek healthcare information less often than their Caucasian counterparts, thus hindering the provision of quality services, as well as limiting the foreign patients’ ability to manage their health conditions effectively. The foreigners’ failure to easily accept the information provided to them by healthcare providers puts them at risk. Disentangling the role of health literacy in racial healthcare disparities from the effects of racial attitudes and beliefs is often hard (Penner et al,
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.
The United States’ population is currently rising exponentially and with growth comes demographic shifts. Some of the demographics shifts include the population growth of Hispanics, increase in senior citizens especially minority elderly, increase in number of residents who do not speak English, increase in foreign-born residents, population trends of people from different sexual orientation, and trends of people with disabilities (Perez & Luquis, 2009). As a public health practitioner, the only way to effectively eliminate health disparities among Americans, one must explore and embrace the demographic shifts of the United States population because differences exist among ethnic groups (Perez, 2009). We must be cognizant of the adverse health conditions for each population and the types of socioeconomic factors that affect them. Culture helps shape an individual’s health related beliefs, values, and behaviors. It is more than ethnicity and race; culture involves economic, political, religious, psychological, and biological aspects (Kleinman & Benson, 2006). All of these conditions take on an emotional tone and moral meaning for participants (Kleinman & Benson, 2006). As a health professional, it is one’s duty to have adequate knowledge and awareness of various cultures to effectively promote health behavior change. Cultural and linguistic competencies through cultural humility are two important aspects of working in the field of public health. Cultural competency is having a sense of understanding and respect for different cultural groups, while linguistic competency is the complete awareness of the language barriers that impact the health of individuals. These concepts are used to then work effectively work with various pop...
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.
Healthcare disparities are when there are inequalities or differences of the conditions of health and the quality of care that is received among specific groups of people such as African Americans, Caucasians, Asians, or Hispanics. Not only does it occur between racial and ethnic groups, health disparities can happen between males and females as well. Minorities have the worst healthcare outcomes, higher death rates, and are more prone to terminal diseases. For African American men and women, some of the most common health disparities are diabetes, cancer, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and HIV infections. Some factors that can contribute to disparities are healthcare access, transportation, specialist referrals, and non-effective communication with patients. There is also much racism that still occurs today, which can be another reason African Americans may be mistreated with their healthcare. “Although both black and white patients tended not to endorse the existence of racism in the medical system, African Americans patients were more likely to perceive racism” (Laveist, Nickerson, Bowie, 2000). Over the years, the health care system has made improvements but some Americans, such as African Americans, are still being treating unequally when wanting the same care they desire as everyone else.
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 ...
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
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.
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.
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.