Essay On Mexican American Health Barriers
Mexican American Health Barries
For this week’s discussion board I choose to discuss Mexican Americans and the health, education, and employment barriers faced by Mexican Americans. The Mexican American population includes the largest percentage of illegal aliens within the United States (Giger, 2013). While not all Mexicans are illegal aliens there are many disparities experienced by many Mexicans due to their illegal status. The illegal status of many Mexicans bars them from legal employment within the United States. Many illegal aliens work “under the table” for low wages without healthcare or dental benefits. The lack of health insurance many keep some from going to doctors unless they are very ill or injured. Many illegal Mexicans within …show more content…
the US suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the fear of getting deported (Giger, 2013).
Furthermore, lack of legal citizenship bars illegal aliens from being eligible for government assistance. Illegal aliens are not eligible for food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, or housing assistance. Mexicans who are illegal aliens are also disadvantaged in education as they are unable to receive government grants or student loans to attend college. Furthermore, many school districts do not receive funds to education the children of illegal aliens in grades K-12.
So nursing interventions than could help the Mexican population include offering classes to new Mexican immigrants about the importance of health insurance and how to obtain health insurance as many new immigrants do not understand American health care market or the need for health insurance (Giger, 2013).
The biggest barrier in implementing this intervention is language barrier as many do not speak fluent English. The use of interpreter may be necessary. Another nursing intervention would be to offer education about preventative exams one can do one their own to protect their health. Many do not have health insurance and self-exams offer at least partial preventative care. The biggest barrier to implementing this intervention is that many Mexicans are very modest and self-breast, testicular, or skin exams can be embarrassing. The use of videos and models to teach such topics may help make the subject less uncomfortable. Another nursing intervention is to help Mexican Americans with diabetes maintain healthy blood glucose levels. One effective method for teaching Mexican Americans about diabetes control is peer educators and mentors (Thompson, Horton, & Flores, 2007). Participants can relate to the peer counselors who have some of the same barriers to treatment as they do such as cost of testing
supplies. References
Giger, J. N. (2013). Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Thompson, J. R., Horton, C., & Flores, C. (2007, June). Advancing diabetes self-management in the Mexican American population: A community health worker model in a primary care setting. Diabetes Educator, 33(6), 159-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0145721707304077
For this week’s discussion board I choose to discuss Mexican Americans and the health, education, and employment barriers faced by Mexican Americans. The Mexican American population includes the largest percentage of illegal aliens within the United States (Giger, 2013). While not all Mexicans are illegal aliens there are many disparities experienced by many Mexicans due to their illegal status. The illegal status of many Mexicans bars them from legal employment within the United States. Many illegal aliens work “under the table” for low wages without healthcare or dental benefits. The lack of health insurance many keep some from going to doctors unless they are very ill or injured. Many illegal Mexicans within …show more content…
the US suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the fear of getting deported (Giger, 2013).
Furthermore, lack of legal citizenship bars illegal aliens from being eligible for government assistance. Illegal aliens are not eligible for food stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, or housing assistance. Mexicans who are illegal aliens are also disadvantaged in education as they are unable to receive government grants or student loans to attend college. Furthermore, many school districts do not receive funds to education the children of illegal aliens in grades K-12.
So nursing interventions than could help the Mexican population include offering classes to new Mexican immigrants about the importance of health insurance and how to obtain health insurance as many new immigrants do not understand American health care market or the need for health insurance (Giger, 2013).
The biggest barrier in implementing this intervention is language barrier as many do not speak fluent English. The use of interpreter may be necessary. Another nursing intervention would be to offer education about preventative exams one can do one their own to protect their health. Many do not have health insurance and self-exams offer at least partial preventative care. The biggest barrier to implementing this intervention is that many Mexicans are very modest and self-breast, testicular, or skin exams can be embarrassing. The use of videos and models to teach such topics may help make the subject less uncomfortable. Another nursing intervention is to help Mexican Americans with diabetes maintain healthy blood glucose levels. One effective method for teaching Mexican Americans about diabetes control is peer educators and mentors (Thompson, Horton, & Flores, 2007). Participants can relate to the peer counselors who have some of the same barriers to treatment as they do such as cost of testing
supplies. References
Giger, J. N. (2013). Transcultural nursing: Assessment and intervention (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Thompson, J. R., Horton, C., & Flores, C. (2007, June). Advancing diabetes self-management in the Mexican American population: A community health worker model in a primary care setting. Diabetes Educator, 33(6), 159-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0145721707304077