Health Disparities Among the Poor

Health Disparities Improving the health of the socially and economically disadvantaged is a major task. Many Americans are living with poor health because of their socioeconomic statuses and it has many negative effects on their long term health. Improving access to health care is not enough to help fix the lower death rates among low income families. Our social status in our economy has large effect on our lives including how we are able to live our lives and in tern it has large measurable effects on our health. San Antonio is no exception, in low income areas the mortality rates by diabetes are stunning and need to be changed in order to help improve the lives of so many people. In my essay I will be proposing a plan to help lower diabetes mortality rates and I will focus on the San Antonio zip code of 78202. San Antonio is effect by the social determinants of health every day. In areas of low income people the mortality rates by diabetes are much higher than those of high income. For example area code 78202 the median house hold income is $22,584 with 40.4% of individuals falling below the poverty level with the rate of mortality over 152 per 100,000 people. The same rate is seen in area code 78237 the median household income is $22,703 with 36.4% of individuals living in the area that fall below the poverty level. In the opposite side of the spectrum the areas with the mortality rate less than 112 per 100,000 individuals are generally found in higher income areas. One area that fits this description is area code 78209 with a median income per house hold of $62,294 and only 11.6% individuals who fall below the poverty line. This shows a clear correlation between household income and higher death rates due to illness and poor health. Studies show that there are social determinants that the poor have to deal with have a cascade effect on a person’s life which will affect the overall health of the individual. In the article titled Social Status Has a