Disparities Between Caucasian And African American Women

In order to analyze this project objectively, research will be presented from various academic sources. The institute of medicine (IOM) has done extensive research, at the request of the United States Congress, on the various disparities within healthcare. Their analysis looks at differences in treatment, patient perception, and how individuals of different races and genders act while receiving care. Furthermore, I have out in an inquiry to St. Lukes Hospital, a member of the greater Lehigh Valley Heath Network, to see what type of data they may have on the disparities in healthcare amongst women of different races. The Lehigh Valley serves as a diverse data pool to extract meaningful information from. The demographic make-up of Bethlehem is varied, yet African Americans only account for roughly 6 percent of the population (Suburbanstats.org). The small size of the African American populations will need to be taken into account, but the information should still allow for valid data.

Throughout the semester, we have discussed many different social justice issues. One issue that has stuck with me is gender and racial inequality. Gender inequality is very important to me because I was raised by a single mother and surrounded by women all the time. I do not believe that anyone should be payed or treated differently due to their gender. While growing up, I saw that women are capable for doing anything and often times have to work harder than men to prove themselves. Racial inequality is an issues that is important to me because I feel that all individuals should be equal. I think Dr. King’s idea of color blindness, not today’s definition, should be something that we as a society strive for. We need to move past the idea that

Spirituality plays a very important role in African American culture. As we know, traditional healing practices and spirituality are closely related. This deep spirituality comes from their motherland African culture but was reinforce during the rough periods of slavery and enforced discrimination. Spirituality makes people of believing that only God is responsible for health, illness, and healing. Thus, spiritual beliefs provide comfort and are an effective way for remaining healthy, coping, and healing (Johnson, Elbert-Avila, Tulsky, 1992). Giger, Davidhizar, and Turner (1992) recalled that a number of African Americans still linking good health with luck or success and disease or illness with bad luck, fate,

Based on the evidence supplied by author Kent Anderson Leslie, slaves in antebellum Georgia did not always live under the oppressive system of chattel labor. According to Leslie, the rules that applied to racial hierarchy were not strictly enforced, especially when it came to propertied and wealthy planters such as David Dickson who chose to raise his mixed-race daughter at home. Amanda Dickson’s experiences during Reconstruction demonstrate that she had much more freedom after slavery was abolished than may have been expected before the Civil War. Amanda Dickson’s experiences and those of her mother in particular do not fit the presumed mold of oppressed slave with no opportunity for a better life.

This will explore the role gender, ethnicity, race and socio-economics play in the acquisition, maintenance and experience of health care. A particular focus is the interaction (intersection) between these elements and their effect on awareness, education, active prevention and early detection of cancer, particularly breast cancer in women. Cancer is a disease caused by a mutation and rapid division of cells. Cancer is a general term describing many diseases; essentially there is a wide array of types of cancers. This vast differentiation makes it difficult to combat this disease and similarly the differences among individuals cause the course of this disease to vary greatly, cancer effects people differently. Breast cancer is one of the more well-known forms of cancer and is frequently touched upon or glazed over in discussion. A conversation may start with “I know someone who has or had cancer” but way to often this is where the conversation ends. The discussion on breast cancer needs to expand, to further the spread of information and understanding of the many aspects of this disease. “Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body” (What is Breast cancer). Breast cancer can be found in both male and female populations but it is particularly, prevalent among women, Breast cancer is the most pervasive

In today’s society, there are many different factors that can contribute to one’s overall health and well-being. Since there are so many different factors that can affect one’s health, there are inequalities that exist among people and this is knows as health disparity. "Health disparities are differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States” (Nhlbi.nih.gov, 2015). Health disparities can be associated with factors such as: socioeconomic status, education, gender, race, ethnicity, age, mental health, and religion. There are certain health problems that can affect different groups more than others, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS (Surgeongeneral.gov, 2015). One example of a specific population in the United States that is affected by health disparities is the African American Population. While African Americans are affected by various health disparities, one that affects this population more prominently is heart disease.

The United States is a melting pot of cultural diversity. For a country that was founded by individuals fleeing persecution, it has taken us many years to grant African-Americans equal rights, and even longer for those rights to be recognized. Despite all the effort to eliminate inequality in this country, health disparity among this minority group remains a significant issue. Research in this area has pointed to several key reasons for this gap that center on differences in culture, socioeconomics, and lack of health literacy.

According to genetics and social science research there are striking differences between White and minority populations affected with breast cancer in the U.S. These disparities are likely due to a combination of cultural, environmental and genetic factors that differ between the groups. Historically, scientists have separately explored either the genetic or the social/behavioral contributions to cancer. The research team profiled in this case study takes the position that we cannot effectively grasp the complexity of cancer etiology, nor design appropriate

13.2% of the United States population identifies themselves as Black as African Americans, and of those over 16% had an mental illness that was diagnosable. The socio economic impact of a history of slavery, sharecropping and race-based exclusion from health, racism, spiritual beliefs, social and economic resources, education and other factors are key factors that contribute to African American disparities today. Many of these things are linked to mental health. According to the US department of health, African Americans are 20% more likely to report having serious psychological distress than in non-Hispanic whites (. Despite knowing this, African Americans are less likely to seek mental health services than white Americans.

Over the past couple of months Obama has talked about how he wants to take on criminal justice reform. Recently both political parties have shown bipartisan support for reforming the criminal justice system. Senator Chuck Grassley has introduced a sentencing reform bill that appears to have bipartisan support. [1] Some liberals say this bill will help to address racial disparities; however, although this is a step in the right direction this bill, if it were to become law, would not significantly change the racial disparities between white and black Americans. The bill fails to address the stigma felons face in the job market, it fails to address a felons right to vote, and it fails to address crime prevention. To fully address racial disparities in American nearly every institution will require some form of reformation.

Studies show that police are more likely to pull over and frisk blacks or Latinos than whites. In New York City, 80% of the stops made were blacks and Latinos, and 85% of those people were frisked, compared to a mere 8% of white people stopped (11 Facts about Racial Discrimination). America is known as the land of opportunity. Immigrants and people come from far and wide seeking success and achieving their dream in this land. There is a reason for that and throughout history this reason hasn’t changed. America is a melting pot. The most diverse country in the world. We have Asians, African Americans, Chinese, Indians and much more all living together as one. You go into any big business, law firm or

Breast Cancer is the most common misfortune in women and second leading cause of death by cancer. Today, woman with breast cancer have a 90% chance of surviving for five years post-diagnosis. However, African American women have a national survival rate of 79%. Socioeconomic barriers and lack of access to health services have crippled African American women in breast cancer advancements. Studies have show that African American women tend to be diagnosed with a higher-stage of cancer because of the delay of being tested until it is late in the stage. African American women in contrast to their white counterparts generally have a more aggressive stage of breast cancer and therefore a shorter survival rate. These startling statistics bring

Another health disparity is ethnic background. A study found that Asian women are “referred for late treatment for a breast lump” compared to Caucasian women (Winship, 1997). Part of this disparity is the disbelief that Asian women can/will develop breast cancer (Winship, 1997). Hospitals and medical professionals also contribute to this disparity with ignorance towards minority cultures and lack of interpreters (Winship, 1997). There must be changes implemented to medical and nursing training as well (Winship, 1997). Medical manufacturers have been delayed with responding to the needs of “ethnic minorities” such as a providing a variety of shades for prosthetics (Winship, 1997). “There is a need for strategically targeted educational material” that will educate Asian women and women of other ethnic backgrounds about the risks of breast cancer or even developing any form of cancer (Winship, 1997).

The issue of breast cancer in the general population remains alarming. However, for African-American (AA) women, the issue is even more pressing due to their higher rate of mortality when compared to their cohorts. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that begins in the breasts’ cells; these cells can invade and metastasize to other body parts (American Cancer Society, 2014). It can affect both men and women. Breast cancer can be identified as either ductal, lobular, or inflammatory carcinoma. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) (2014) 1 in every 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetimes, with Caucasian women being the most affected. However, the mortality rate for African-American

The support services that can be beneficial for Kesha is joining a religious based women’s group that can attend and relate to other women. Stanley, Bush, Camp, Jameson, Phillips, Barber, Zeno, Lomax, and Cully (2011) reveal that individuals who attend forms of religious/spirituality coping organizations, have lower stress/depression, less mortality, and higher health benefits. By offering a facility that aims towards women and incorporates Kesha’s religious beliefs, it can reduce her anxiety and depression, have a support groups, and use her religion as a treatment.