Essay On Health Disparities
Health disparities are a continuing issue, especially in America where there are many different socioeconomic hierarchies that can affect the level of health care. These health disparities refer to the different groups of people and how diseases affect each group. There have been many studies done to identify the health disparities driven by socioeconomic status (SES). Most all of the studies have provided evidence that racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive lower quality health care than the non-minorities (APA, 2015). Acculturation is another concept related to a culture that could explain ethnic disparities in health outcomes (Egede, 2006). Although there has been an increase in medical technology, studies continue to show that
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minorities are less likely to receive routine medical care and have higher rates in deaths relating to illnesses. There are few studies that have concluded racial variations in health are driven by genetic characteristics, assuming that race is a biological factor, meaning genes that determine race also determine health issues (Egede, 2006).
Diversity in SES can be measured by combining key components such as income, education, and occupation. Each of these factors is viewed through a social lens depicting power, privilege, and control (Adler & Newman, 2002). Income is a strong component to receiving quality health care. A family that lives on a higher income can provide better nutrition, housing, schooling, and recreation (Adler & Newman, 2002). Rising health costs make it harder for those in lower income families and even more detrimental to those in poverty. However, because health care is expensive, this creates a never ending cycle for races and cultural differences in all people because insurance companies increase premium costs to support the health care to the lower income population. Education is another SES component because it provides knowledge and creates a higher earnings potential. Education develops knowledge of certain life skills in how to take better care of oneself regarding nutrition, proper exercise, and a greater advantage of access to information and resources to promote good health (Adler & Newman, 2002). High levels of education will also assist in better occupational opportunities, hence earning a much higher income. Occupational status is a measurement of health disparities that takes into the idea of a person’s type of employment or lack of (Adler & Newman, 2002). Most all occupational jobs have a threat of unemployment and job insecurity which can affect health as well. This can create high blood pressure, stress, fatigue, and greater exposure to costly narcotics like cocaine. People addicted to cocaine or heroin can easily spend $10,000 or more per year to support their habits (The Ranch, 2012). Lower-status jobs expose workers to physical risks linked to occupational injury, psychosocial risks such as depression, and exposure to toxic substances. Lower status jobs often reflect the lower income which makes good health care too expensive. There is also evidence that being unemployed and the length of unemployment affects health status (Adler & Newman, 2002).
Socioeconomic status (SES) is the most fundamental cause of health disparities, however, it is also related to race and ethnicity in the United States. Ethnicity, culture, religion, race are all variables of beliefs and practices that can influence ones SES. Minority groups are often faced with discrimination, prejudices, and lack of acceptance by majority groups. SES and race and ethnicity are intimately intertwined (APA, 2015). These factors alone can force minority groups into low SES which impact the studies of health disparities (Egede, 2006).
Health disparities are gaps in the quality of health and health care that mirror differences in socioeconomic status (APA, 2015).
Although there have been many positive strides in civil rights, race remains a significant factor in determining whether an individual receives care, whether an individual receives high quality care, and in determining health outcomes (NIH, 2015). Inequality in education, income, and occupation exacerbates the gaps between the health disparities (Adler & Newman, 2002). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) landmark report, Unequal Treatment, provides compelling evidence that racial and ethnic disparities continue to grow despite efforts to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic health care disparities (Fairhall, 2008). Since this report, there has been renewed interest in understanding the sources of disparities, identifying contributing factors, and designing and evaluating effective interventions to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care (Egede, 2006). Economic historians interested in health try to understand the relationship of inequality and health. Some evidence of closing the gap of health disparities are, for example, Social Security dramatically reduced the proportion of elderly who lived in poverty, Federal Reserve policies that lowered interest rates, cut unemployment and led to wage increases, welfare benefits, subsidized housing, U.S. surgeon general’s report on smoking, and schools increasing physical and nutritional education (Adler & Newman,
2002). Future studies on the relationship among race, ethnicity, culture, or acculturation need to provide better attempts to separate the effects of poverty from the effects health disparities and how these variable are defined and measured (Egede, 2006). There needs to be an increase in awareness of racial and ethnic disparities and provide knowledge of causes and interventions to reduce these disparities such as expanding health care coverage and improve on the capacity and number of providers in low SES communities. Some other priorities in the future are to build upon training programs in demography behavioral, reproductive awareness, maternal/child health care, and rehabilitation sciences in order to create better links to the minority communities, which contribute to health disparity issues. In addition, perceived discrimination, racial bias, and stereotyping should remain as a high concern. More studies are needed to determine how to stop and prevent the factors that significantly contribute to health care disparities and identify strategies to minimize or eliminate their effects on health care (Egede, 2006). In the US there is a continued increase in the number of people that belong to different cultural, ethnic backgrounds and it is becoming increasingly difficult to classify individuals into one race category (Egede, 2006). However, this “melting Pot” should emphasize the need to break down the wall of health disparities and focus on the need to educate people that people are just that, people.
minorities are less likely to receive routine medical care and have higher rates in deaths relating to illnesses. There are few studies that have concluded racial variations in health are driven by genetic characteristics, assuming that race is a biological factor, meaning genes that determine race also determine health issues (Egede, 2006).
Diversity in SES can be measured by combining key components such as income, education, and occupation. Each of these factors is viewed through a social lens depicting power, privilege, and control (Adler & Newman, 2002). Income is a strong component to receiving quality health care. A family that lives on a higher income can provide better nutrition, housing, schooling, and recreation (Adler & Newman, 2002). Rising health costs make it harder for those in lower income families and even more detrimental to those in poverty. However, because health care is expensive, this creates a never ending cycle for races and cultural differences in all people because insurance companies increase premium costs to support the health care to the lower income population. Education is another SES component because it provides knowledge and creates a higher earnings potential. Education develops knowledge of certain life skills in how to take better care of oneself regarding nutrition, proper exercise, and a greater advantage of access to information and resources to promote good health (Adler & Newman, 2002). High levels of education will also assist in better occupational opportunities, hence earning a much higher income. Occupational status is a measurement of health disparities that takes into the idea of a person’s type of employment or lack of (Adler & Newman, 2002). Most all occupational jobs have a threat of unemployment and job insecurity which can affect health as well. This can create high blood pressure, stress, fatigue, and greater exposure to costly narcotics like cocaine. People addicted to cocaine or heroin can easily spend $10,000 or more per year to support their habits (The Ranch, 2012). Lower-status jobs expose workers to physical risks linked to occupational injury, psychosocial risks such as depression, and exposure to toxic substances. Lower status jobs often reflect the lower income which makes good health care too expensive. There is also evidence that being unemployed and the length of unemployment affects health status (Adler & Newman, 2002).
Socioeconomic status (SES) is the most fundamental cause of health disparities, however, it is also related to race and ethnicity in the United States. Ethnicity, culture, religion, race are all variables of beliefs and practices that can influence ones SES. Minority groups are often faced with discrimination, prejudices, and lack of acceptance by majority groups. SES and race and ethnicity are intimately intertwined (APA, 2015). These factors alone can force minority groups into low SES which impact the studies of health disparities (Egede, 2006).
Health disparities are gaps in the quality of health and health care that mirror differences in socioeconomic status (APA, 2015).
Although there have been many positive strides in civil rights, race remains a significant factor in determining whether an individual receives care, whether an individual receives high quality care, and in determining health outcomes (NIH, 2015). Inequality in education, income, and occupation exacerbates the gaps between the health disparities (Adler & Newman, 2002). The Institute of Medicine (IOM) landmark report, Unequal Treatment, provides compelling evidence that racial and ethnic disparities continue to grow despite efforts to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic health care disparities (Fairhall, 2008). Since this report, there has been renewed interest in understanding the sources of disparities, identifying contributing factors, and designing and evaluating effective interventions to reduce or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care (Egede, 2006). Economic historians interested in health try to understand the relationship of inequality and health. Some evidence of closing the gap of health disparities are, for example, Social Security dramatically reduced the proportion of elderly who lived in poverty, Federal Reserve policies that lowered interest rates, cut unemployment and led to wage increases, welfare benefits, subsidized housing, U.S. surgeon general’s report on smoking, and schools increasing physical and nutritional education (Adler & Newman,
2002). Future studies on the relationship among race, ethnicity, culture, or acculturation need to provide better attempts to separate the effects of poverty from the effects health disparities and how these variable are defined and measured (Egede, 2006). There needs to be an increase in awareness of racial and ethnic disparities and provide knowledge of causes and interventions to reduce these disparities such as expanding health care coverage and improve on the capacity and number of providers in low SES communities. Some other priorities in the future are to build upon training programs in demography behavioral, reproductive awareness, maternal/child health care, and rehabilitation sciences in order to create better links to the minority communities, which contribute to health disparity issues. In addition, perceived discrimination, racial bias, and stereotyping should remain as a high concern. More studies are needed to determine how to stop and prevent the factors that significantly contribute to health care disparities and identify strategies to minimize or eliminate their effects on health care (Egede, 2006). In the US there is a continued increase in the number of people that belong to different cultural, ethnic backgrounds and it is becoming increasingly difficult to classify individuals into one race category (Egede, 2006). However, this “melting Pot” should emphasize the need to break down the wall of health disparities and focus on the need to educate people that people are just that, people.