Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
The causes of inequality in health care
The causes of inequality in health care
Conflict theory healthcare
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: The causes of inequality in health care
Introduction Health care is a very important factor for the basic need of the public. Therefore, inequalities in health care delivery in Panama will be the social phenomenon that would be assessed in this paper. It will focus on the social facts like social class, gender and ethnicity. Conflict theory will be the sociological perspective that will be used to understand this phenomenon. An analysis of the inequalities in health care delivery in Panama reveals that the unequal access to the same medical standards creates conflicts between the different groups. This report will be divided into three parts. In the first part, inequalities in health care delivery in Panama, it will talk about health care and its history along with the social facts …show more content…
The true progress in the health of a population is a consequence of the specific programs in that aspect, of high level that is made in the individual from an early age, and in the adoption of hygienic practices (Rincon del Vago, n.d.). “From a sociological point of view, factors contribute to the evaluation of a person as ‘health’ or ‘sick’.” (Schaefer & Smith, 2004) This is because health is relative, it can be viewed in a social context and consider how it varies in different sittuations or culture (Corneau & Roy, n.d.). During the 16th century, Panama was conquered by Spain and it was used as a transshipment point for gold and silver, and later by Colombia. This is because Panama is a country located in Central America, which connects North and South America, and has both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans at its sides. Many countries have arrived to Panama due to the construction of the railroad and the Panama Canal such as the African, West Indians, U.S. nationals, French, Indians, Chinese, Italians, Greeks, etc. (Millett, Gordon & Anguizola.
As a result of their central location in Mexico and local water supply, the Aztec community served as an effective setting for trade. The Aztec community had a high population density and was known for having a large transient population (157). These factors can contribute to the spread of disease if proper measures are not put into action. Large populations increase the amount of waste produced and the demand for water. While the initiatives to maintain public health were effective, some also had negative consequences, such as the discarding of waste. The Aztecs implemented mechanisms to deliver and preserve clean water, had effective ways to dispose of dead bodies and established, and methods to maintain public spaces in order to prevent the spread of disease and support the well-being of the community.
Panama, a small country located in Central America, is very diversified in both its people and its climate. Considered to be the isthmus connecting South America to North America, Panama has played a key role in global transportation since the creation of the Panama Canal. The canal goes through the midsection of the country connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, allowing for much faster sea travel. Because of its location, Panama has been heavily influenced by several countries including Colombia which they were ruled by until 1903 and the United States which played such a large role in the realization of the canal. These foreign influences can easily be found in Panama's cuisine, music, and artwork as well as all the tribes that have settled within the country.
Goldberg, Rachel. "Inequality and Health Care in Peru." MedLife. MedLife, 27 Dec. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. .
The riddle of inequality, as Tillich explains, "...Cannot be solved." This inequality is the divider of people, of the have's and have-nots. It seems that this riddle has confused people since the beginning of time and was even discussed in the bible. People always wonder why some have more than others do; they wonder why this happens and how it can change. I believe that this riddle is natural and cannot be changed despite he best efforts of people.
For them, becoming sick sometimes is considered a sign of weakness. Some Hispanics prefer domestic remedies, prayers, friends, or a traditional healer (curandero) rather than seeking medical assistance. In some cases when those alternatives don’t work, some people get the medical assistance while others practice both things at the same time, or return to the alternatives when they are not satisfied with the modern medicine. In Hispanic countries sometimes health services are free of cost, but they don’t have the hygiene and conditions necessary to offer a good
The culture and political structures of Panama as we know it today has evolved from an incredibly diverse and interesting history. Geographically, Panama lies on an isthmus, a strip of land that essentially connects the greater landmasses of North and South America. It is believed that volcanic activity in the late Pliocene era closed the former Central American Seaway that had separated the two continents. The climatic implications of this landform are incredible, allowing for the redistribution of oceanic currents and the formation of the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic of today.
The great explorations and subsequent migrations of Europeans to the Americas in the 15th-18th centuries opened up those entire continents to the fatal impact of the infectious diseases of Europe. European conquests owed a good deal of their success to the effects of disease on the indigenous peoples, especially smallpox in the Americas. Before Spanish conquest of the New World, there was no sickness or great health related issues that Natives were forced to face. That all changed, however, when European explorers, Spanish conquistadors in particular, unknowingly brought the deadly disease of smallpox into Latin America. A recollection of days before the Spanish by an Indian of the Yucatan from the book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel shows just how disease free natives were before the Spanish arrival: “There was then no sickness; they had no aching bones; they had then no high fever; they had then no smallpox; they had then no burning chest; they had then no abdominal pain; they had then no consumption; they had then no headache. At that time the course of humanity was orderly. The foreigners made it otherwise when they arrived here.” Then, after the Spanish came to the New World and spread smallpox to the natives, over 95% of them were killed. The Taino population of Hispaniola that was once estimated to be as large as 8 million went virtually extinct. Central Mexico’s population went from 15 million in 1519 to 1.5 million a century later. ...
Health care in Brazil became a major issue between the years 1985-1988 (Nascimento, 2013). The citizens took notice that a large gap between health care services provided to the wealthy and services provided to the rest of the population existed. Health care in Brazil became a right to all citizens in 1988 and the Sistema Unico de Saude- SUS (Unified Health Care System) was established (Nascimento, 2013). Citizens are able to purchase private insurance provided that they can afford it. The Brazilian health care system is funded by the government through social security, taxes, and those employed by the government. This system was instituted during a time in the nation’s history that was politically and economically unstable. The Family health Program was established in 1994 (Nascimento, 2013). Preventative care is this primary focus of this program. The government sets up community health centers that are financed through the government. Nurses, primary care physicians, and medical assistants. The program is commended for being efficient. The program solves 85% of health related problems (Nascimento, 2013). Cost, quality, and access to care still remain a challenge to the Brazilian health care system. Although improvements have been made, impacts on women and maternal child health, the elderly, and increasing cases of many non-communicable diseases create many disparities.
This allows for rapid naval deployment between fleets in either ocean. These two facets make the Panama Canal very important in the region. LaFeber notes that Panamanian nationalism played a large role in the creation of the canal and, consequently, the cause for the area's constant instability. The first expression occurred in the late 1800's with Panamanian struggle for independence from Columbia. The United States eager to build the canal, and control its operation, used and backed Panamanian nationalist.
As firmly stated by Ordoñez Ramírez, reevaluation of the list of diseases covered by the Popular Insurance Program is a crucial step towards not only helping relieve poverty and exorbitant prices for medical treatment, but decreasing the death toll due to inaccessible or inadequate medical treatment. However, in conjunction to re...
Panama is the southernmost country of Central America. It sits on the isthmus connecting north and South America. Panama remains bordered by Costa Rica to the west. Colombia is to the southeast. The Caribbean is to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Panama City is the capital of Panama. Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821.Panama has the third largest economy in Central America and it is the fastest growing economy and the largest per capita consumer in Central America. In 2013, Panama ranked fourth in Latin American countries in terms of the Human Development Index, and is ranked 59th in the world. Studies in 2010 show that Panama remains as the second most competitive economy in Latin America. Panama’s jungle is home to an abundance of tropical plants, animals, and birds and some of them found nowhere else in the world.
What are Health disparities? Health disparities are "preventable difference in the burden of disease, violence, injury or opportunities to meet optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged populations". This population can be defined by elements such as race, gender, income, career and geographical location. Health disparities are biased and are related to the historical and uneven distribution of social, economic, political and environmental features. Some of this features include poverty, ecological risks, limited access to health care, educational discriminations and individual and behavioral factors. Some people believe that health disparities are ethically wrong because it demonstrates historical inequality. some ethical values of important in bioethics such as "Kantian ethics, contractarian ethics, and utilitarian ethics have provided theoretical justification" on why health disparities are ethically wrong. While most people believe in the unfairness of these approach to health care solutions, others sorely believe that this approach is beneficiary for those that can't afford proper care due to cost because of their financial limitation, geographical location, ethnicity/race or gender orientation. In this paper, I will expatiate on some disadvantages subsidized by this factors to the population in concern and will cite some of the difficulties faced by these populations due to their inadequate access to good or better health care.
In many parts of the world that are considered lower or middle-class countries, health disparities are cause of major concern that leads to unnecessary disease and possible death. Many variables affect how and why many citizens of lower and middle-class countries struggle to obtain adequate healthcare. One region of the world classified as a lower socio economic territory is Ethiopia. Many factors contribute to the lack of health care in Ethiopia such as access to care, high cost of care, and being uneducated, to name a few. One idea that hinders many citizens in Ethiopia to attain healthcare is the access to the healthcare system. This research project will entail the issue of access to the health care system; ways it is affecting the lives of those living in Ethiopia, and measures that can be taken to possibly increase the availability and attainment of healthcare.
This essay will attempt to illustrate how “health” is a social phenomenon through the examination of power and inequality. It will focus on the social causes and effects of medicalisation and how the attitudes and positions people occupy in society influence their medical needs. This essay will also highlight some of the challenges faced by the societies around the world in addressing medical inequality.
The healthcare industry of the Bahamas is divided into two sectors, public and private health care. There are five hospitals, which includes two private hospitals and three public hospitals, and numerous public community clinics along with the many private facilities through which medical services are rendered (Doctors Hospital, 2009). The Princess Margaret Hospital, which is the main public facility, according to Smith (2010) in 1905 was people’s last choice when seeking medical attention. Smith described the then hospital as being partitioned into four areas, “for the sick, indigent, lepers and insane” (Smith, 2010). Smith (2010) further expressed that the medical services were free and those that were financially stable paid for treatment to be carried out at their homes. Today, 108 years later, much has changed within health care arena. Presently, there is an increase in the number of persons resorting to the public hospitals and public clinics for medical attention. For those that are in good financially standings they make use of private hospitals or/and other private medical facilities. While some people may use the public medical facilities by choice there are others whom, because of their income or lack of income, have no other alternative but to fall at the hands of the public services. Too, for many years the Bahamas has had the problem of immigrants from Haiti crossing the Bahamian borders illegally and this therefore results in an increase in the funds allocated for the health care industry. According to McCartney (2010) the Haitian nationals accounted for 11.5% of the Bahamas population, hence adding to the government health care budget (McCartney, 2013). The reality is that the Bahamas is far from winning...