Healthy People 2020 defines “health disparity” as “a specific type of health differences in access or availability of services” closely connected to a population group that experience barriers to health care due to race, socio- economic status and developmental issues. Certain factors such as illegal immigration status, poor education, low socio- economic status can have an impact on health by having poor or no access to quality healthcare. These disparities affect positive health outcomes in a community and makes the situation even harder to reduce or eliminate vulnerability.
Health equity means “eliminating health disparities” by providing access to quality healthcare for vulnerable population. Braverman (2011) affirms that ‘health Equity’ requires the obligation
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Stanhope & Lancaster (2014) asserts that due to inequities that have been performed, social epidemiology has become popular. Columbia University (2012) defines social epidemiology as “the branch of epidemiology that studies the social and social determinants of health”. The later further states that we can “illuminate the connections between social factors and health and use what we find to improve health”. The theory discusses and advises direct examination and intervention of communities in relation to disparities and the overall health status of the community. The areas that would benefit from close examination include education, and social interaction between different racial groups. Healthy people 2020 places great focus on social-economic networks to expand levels of education and lessen unemployment. This can be accomplished by enhancing the relationships of community population regardless of color and educational attainment. By promoting social interaction amongst community population, beneficial information such as healthy recipes, community resources, job availabilities and healthcare information is shared, thus reducing disparities in the
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.
The public needs to address racial disparities in health which is achievable by changing policy addressing the major components of socioeconomic status (income, education, and occupation) as well as the pathways by which these affect health. To modify these risk factors, one needs to look even further to consider the factors. Socioeconomic status is a key underlying factor. Several components need to be identified to offer more options for those working on policy making. Because the issue is so big, I believe that not a single policy can eliminate health disparities in the United States. One possible pathway can be education, like the campaign to decrease tobacco usage, which is still a big problem, but the health issue has decreased in severity. The other pathway can be by addressing the income, by giving low-income individuals the same quality of care as an individual who has a high
Although authors Canning & Bowser wrote the article “Investing in Health to Improve the Wellbeing of the Disadvantaged” to oppose Marmot’s article “The Marmot Review,” their above quote also debate points raised by other public health researchers such as Brunner and Krieger. The quote states that the health disparities from different populations results from lack of access to quality and affordable healthcare. This is partially true, but as the analyses of Marmot & Brunner and Krieger suggest, social exclusion due to race and economic status, the population’s work and childhood environment, in addition to other social factors, lead to problems in the medical care system (Marmot 3). In other words, health gradient is not only an indication of health systems failing but is also a result
Large disparities exist between minorities and the rest of Americans in major areas of health. Even though the overall health of the nation is improving, minorities suffer from certain diseases up to five times more than the rest of the nation. President Clinton has committed the nation to eliminating the disparities in six areas of health by the Year 2010, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be jumping in on this huge battle. The six areas are: Infant Mortality, Cancer Screening and Management, Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes, HIV Infection and AIDS, and Child and Adult Immunizations.
Williams, D. R., & Jackson, P. B. (2005). Social sources of racial disparities in health. Health Affairs, 24(2), 325-334. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.24.2.325
As defined by World Health Organization (WHO), health is a "state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." (WHO, 2016). However, this statement can vary among people’s perspective of what consider healthy or unhealthy. In the minority group of Hispanics or Latino, health issues have taken a big toll due to fact they are the largest uninsured rates of any racial and ethnic groups in the United States (OMH, 2015). Besides not having health insurance, there are many barriers that this minority group encounters that create a big impact on what enables them to promote health. This paper will analyze the health status of the Hispanic or Latino groups by comparing and contrasting it to the national average, and also will highlight the health disparities in the group and the best approach to health using the three levels of health promotion and prevention.
Communities are sometimes largely unaware that social factors rather than medical ones, such as income, and employment status, shape our health. Our health is also determined by the health and social services we receive, and our ability to attain high education levels, food and safe housing, among other factors.
Health disparity is one of the major concerns in the provision of quality care and access to healthcare which directly the life expectancy of the nation as about ethnicity and race. However, describing the health outcomes or status of an ethnic group in the population would help in a better evaluation of the disparities that occur within minority groups in our society. “Racial/ethnic disparities in health and quality of and access to health care are a well-documented and persistent problem. Across many indicators of health, access to care, and health care quality, racial/ethnic minorities fare worse than whites, and each population faces specific challenges”(James et al., 2017, p. 1).
The goal within the United States government is to treat each individual as an equal citizen. Unfortunately, through the inadequate practice of public policies people have been treated unequal because of natural conditions and the countries social environment. In health policy, the two concepts that cause unequal treatment are health disparities and health differences. Health disparities are resulted from social factors that are avoidable and unjust. For example, saying ovarian cancer death rates are higher because men have better research on prostate cancer (Smith, 2016). “The extent and nature of health disparities changes over the life course” (Adler, 2008, p. 241). Health differences are inherently biological being completely natural and
Socioeconomic Disparities and health are growing at a rapid rate throughout the United States of America. To further understand the meaning of Socioeconomic Disparities, Health and Socioeconomic disparities & health, this essay will assist in providing evidence. Disparities can be defined in many ways, of which include ethnic and racial background and class types that deal with it the most. Due to the low income some individuals receive, they have less access to health care and are at risk for major health issues. Although, ethnicity and socioeconomic status should not determine the level of health care one should receive or whether not the individual receives healthcare.
This essay will discuss, illustrate and evaluate the following statement: inequalities in health are increasing in the 21st century. The focus will be on one of the key determinants of health inequality, social class, specifically in the UK.
Woolf, S. & Braveman, P., 2011. ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: Where Health Disparities Begin: The Role Of Social And Economic Determinants—And Why Current Policies May Make Matters Worse. Health Aff, 30(10).
The idea that the successful health and health care organizations of the future will be those that can simultaneously deliver excellent quality of care, at lower total costs, while improving the health of their population is taking hold. The main reason is because of health disparities. Addressing health disparities has been a challenge for decades. This paper will look at a few examples of how health disparities can affect individually, thus the overall health of a population.
...on, race, and political belief, economic or social condition. Improving the poor health of disadvantaged individuals and reducing health gaps is important but not enough to level up health through socioeconomic groups. The objective of tackling health inequalities can be changed to local needs and priorities of a community allowing wide-ranging partnerships of support to be organised. However it needs to be made clear that what can be done to help improve the life chances and health prospects of individuals living in poverty may not come close to bringing their health prospects closer to the average of the rest of the population or prevent the gap living on throughout the generations. Being clear about what is trying to be overcome and achieved needs upmost importance in the development and delivery of policies that will promote health equality across the population.
Not only does the public health approach seek to eliminate disparities through increasing the quality of healthcare in disadvantaged communities, but it also focuses on promoting general health and disease prevention, which directly addresses the root of many health problems. A public health approach is preventive and comprehensive in eliminating health disparities, which is more open-minded and considerate to many of those communities and individuals whom it seeks to assist. By determining possible causes or risks in communities experiencing certain health problems, this approach thus facilitates the processes for preventing and amending these problems through various strategies, one of which is health