IHP 620 discussion week 4

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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620

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Health Science

Date

May 2, 2024

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docx

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Uploaded by belkisa05

Healthcare disparities represent a critical issue that demands our attention and concerted efforts to address the systemic inequalities prevalent within our healthcare systems. In exploring this multifaceted problem, two glaring healthcare disparities stand out: racial/ethnic disparities and socioeconomic disparities. 1. Racial/Ethnic Disparities: Racial and ethnic minorities often face significant disparities in accessing healthcare services, receiving quality care, and experiencing health outcomes. Studies consistently reveal that minority groups, particularly African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans, are disproportionately affected by chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. When we look at the types of diseases that affect the daily population we know that each one carries a significant percentage of the death toll, some more than others. As stated by the National Library of Medicine “ six medical conditions between blacks and whites accounted for 86% of excess black mortality and the fact that close to 45% of deaths up to the age of 70 years (58,000 of 138,000) in the black population would have been avoidable if better evaluation, detection, and treatment had been available. The six conditions were: cancer (3.8%), heart disease and stroke (14.4%), diabetes (1.0%), infant mortality (26.9%), cirrhosis (4.9%), and homicide and accidents (35.1%).”(NIH, 2012) Moreover, they are less likely to receive timely preventive care, leading to higher rates of preventable diseases and complications. Factors contributing to these disparities include systemic racism, cultural barriers, lack of culturally competent care, and unequal distribution of resources in minority communities. Looking at maternal care and infant care we know that there are disparities in this category as well, higher percentage of colored women get less care, and cannot afford good care due to their socioeconomic status. “ Infant mortality for black babies remains nearly 2.5 times higher than for white babies; the life expectancy for black men and women remains at nearly 1 decade fewer years of life compared with their white counterparts; diabetes rates are more than 30% higher among Native Americans and Latinos than among whites; rates of death attributable to heart disease, stroke, and prostate and breast cancers remain much higher in black populations, and minorities remain grossly under-represented in the health profession's workforce relative to their proportions in the population (Riley, 2012).” Economic policies play a significant role in exacerbating or mitigating racial/ethnic healthcare disparities. For instance, policies related to employment, education, housing, and taxation can influence socioeconomic status, which in turn affects access to healthcare services and health outcomes for minority populations. Additionally, healthcare policies such as Medicaid expansion and funding allocations for community health centers can directly impact access to care for racial and ethnic minorities. We can recommend some of the following to help minimize ethnic disparities in healthcare. Implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives within the organization, establishing community outreach programs, advocating for policies that promote health equity, such as Medicaid expansion, increasing funding for community health centers in underserved areas, and addressing social determinants of health. One of the best is partnering with local community organizations and leaders to develop targeted interventions to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes among racial and ethnic minority populations. Guidance for health eating,

community kitchens, educational centers for health, in depth education about disease and prevention, and the importance of seeking care early on along with vaccination for children to prevent any future disease. 2. Socioeconomic Disparities: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of an individual's access to healthcare services and health outcomes. Low-income individuals and families face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare, including financial constraints, lack of health insurance coverage, transportation issues, and limited access to healthcare facilities in underserved areas. As a result, they are more likely to delay seeking medical care, leading to late-stage diagnoses, higher rates of hospitalizations, and poorer health outcomes, and worst case scenario death. Additionally, individuals with higher SES often have better access to preventive care, screening services, and timely medical interventions, contributing to disparities in health outcomes based on income levels. Addressing healthcare disparities requires a multifaceted approach that involves policy reforms, community engagement, provider education, and investment in healthcare infrastructure in underserved areas. Efforts to promote health equity should prioritize initiatives aimed at eliminating systemic barriers, improving cultural competence in healthcare delivery, expanding access to affordable healthcare coverage, and addressing social determinants of health such as poverty, education, and housing. By bringing together community leaders, providers, and stakeholders they can advocate for equitable healthcare policies, we can work towards building a healthcare system that ensures access to high- quality care for all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. “ The United States has experienced a rise in income inequality, with widening racial gaps in wealth.For every dollar of wealth that White households have, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, and Black/African American households have 83 cents, 7 cents, and 6 cents, respectively.It is estimated that in the United States, the gap in life expectancy between the top 1% of wage earners and the bottom 1% is 14.6 years for men and 10.1 years for women. Moreover, over the past few decades life expectancy has increased among the wealthiest 20%, while the remaining 80% have not experienced any gains in life expectancy.” This is just a small sample of income disparities that match the health disparities. Economic policies, including those related to income distribution, taxation, minimum wage laws, and social safety nets, significantly influence socioeconomic disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Policies that perpetuate income inequality and limit access to resources such as affordable housing, education, and transportation can exacerbate healthcare disparities among low-income individuals and families. Some recommendations can be: Implementing sliding-scale fee structures or income-based subsidies, providing transportation assistance or telehealth, collaborating with community organizations, government agencies, and policymakers to develop holistic approaches to address socioeconomic disparities in healthcare, and offering comprehensive social services. References Riley, W., 2012 Health Disparities: Gaps in Access, Quality and Affordability of Medical Care retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3540621/ Fiscella, K., & Williams, D Health Disparities Based on Socioeconomic Inequities: Implications for Urban Health Care retrieved from

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