Gender Disparities In Health Care

Many Americans have access to health care that enable them to receive the care they need. Other faces a variety of barriers that make it difficult to receive health care services. According to the National Healthcare Disparities Reports, racial and ethnic groups are disproportionately represented among the uninsured and lower socioeconomic status. The report showed that health insurance is a contributing factor for poor health for some of the core measures and little improvement (AHRQ, 2014).

“Without a lifespan view of women’s health… we are unlikely to be successful in advancing women’s health” (Woods 2009, pg. 400). A Global Health Imperative (2009) by author Nancy Fugate Woods explains the issues about health status and opportunities for the health of girl-children world-wide, which includes sex and gender disparities. Girl and women’s health is important, but just not as important as men’s health. Woods gives example of women’s health issues that are extremely serious. “Health issues or problems that occur predominantly in women are breast cancer and menopause” (Woods 2009, pg. 400). Women all over the world have the risk of getting breast cancer, HIV and Aids. Women that are affected by these diseases in some countries may

1. What does the term health disparities mean? Health disparity is a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and environmental disadvantage. "Health disparities affect group of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group." (Kotch, 2013 pg. 233) 2.

A notable discrepancy exists between health care received by the black population in comparison to the white population. However, the foundation of health care inconsistencies has yet to be firmly established. Instead, conflicting views prioritize causes of health care disparities as due to social determinants or due to individual responsibility for health (Woolf & Braveman, 2011). Emerging literature also indicates that health care providers propagate disparities by employing implicit biases (Chapman, Kaatz, & Carnes, 2013; Dovidio, Fiske, 2012). This paper aims to discuss black health care disparities as a function of socially constructed beliefs that both consciously and unconsciously influence health care professionals practice.

Reducing disparities in health and healthcare have been of importance for many federal, state, private and nonprofit organizations for many years. Countless research studies have been done and continue to be conducted to understand the dynamics of health/healthcare disparities and how other factors play a role in widening the gap in health outcomes, disease burden, and mortality among different populations in the United States. Included in the conversation about disparities seen within populations and subgroups, are the concepts of equality and equity in our healthcare system. “Identification and awareness of the differences among populations regarding health outcomes and health determinants are essential steps towards reducing disparities

Although the United States is a leader in healthcare innovation and spends more money on health care than any other industrialized nation, not all people in the United State benefit equally from this progress as a health care disparity exists between racial and ethnic minorities and white Americans. Health care disparity is defined as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage…adversely affecting groups of people who have systematically experienced greater social and/or economic obstacles to health and/or clean environment based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion” (National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities [NPAEHD], 2011, p. 3). Overwhelming evidence shows that racial and ethnic minorities receive inferior quality health care compared to white Americans, and multiple factors contribute to these disparities, including geography, lack of access to adequate health coverage, communication difficulties between patients and providers, cultural barriers, and lack of access to providers (American College of Physicians,

While working as a camps counselor on Georgia Tech’s campus, I came across an unconscious woman who appeared to be drugged by the man she was with. Admittedly, because the situation was so unordinary, surveying it was disorienting. Systematically, I designated the problems by their immediacy, isolating my students from the man, calling the campus police, and deescalating the man’s aggression until the campus police arrived. This situation taught me the importance of maintaining clarity in a triage situation and how to categorize which problem to address first. True, the girl’s consciousness is the more dangerous challenge, but in order to properly deal with this, externalities must be addressed first in a stepwise fashion. While multi-tasking is a beneficial trait, few people can truly dedicate enough focus to effectively accomplish tasks simultaneously, leading me to use this stepwise system in the future.

There are disparities among people with different amount of salary or paycheck, because of their lifestyle they are living and how to deal with their needs and health problems when emerge.

There is a lackage of studies that discussed the health disparities and social justice that influence on diabetes type 2 in Saudi Arabia, so I will discuss the issue from my experience as public healthcare provider. The Indian workers who came from their countries to work 10 to 12 hours daily and receive low salaries that will not be enough for their daily activities, but the employers are provided them with accommodation, one meal, work-injury hospitalization, and transportation. Consequently, the workers may live in poverty because they can’t go for shopping, pay bills for mobile, eat extra meals, or visit hospitals. The Indian employees will suffer from health disparities and social injustice, which are the logic outcome for their type of living and will lead to deferral of diabetes diagnosis, less screening, and difficulty in accessing the healthcare to get frequent management. According to the employers, they refuse to pay for regular medical insurance for their workers due to their poor salaries.

Disparities between populations can be seen all over the healthcare system. Specifically, there exists a disparity between the genders that can lead to increased mortality rates. This disparity can lead to a slower diagnosis of a woman’s illness when compared to a man, which means delayed treatment which also means unnecessary suffering (Rassin, 2009). The disparity has a consequence of women being less inclined to stick to a treatment plan because of the social stigma and expectations placed on them that do not concern men (Rassin, 2009). This disparity is then understood to make the treatments and diagnoses of females much harder than their male counterparts. Women

Studies show that "Hispanics are less likely to receive care and are more likely to receive inferior care" (Durden 2007:537-538) when compared to whites. Minority citizens in general are less likely to receive adequate health care, leading to a rise in disease among areas with high populations of minority citizens. You are not wrong to worry about the children that are affected by this as "Hispanic... children all display significantly lower odds of having access to a usual source of health care in comparison to non-Hispanic white children" (Durden 2007:539) even when taking current welfare programs aimed at providing health care to children, such as CHIP. It is important that we consider the effect of inequality in the health care system on

disparity of access to quality health services in certain areas of Indiana is seemingly nothing less

The leading causes of death of residents in Plaquemines are heart disease and cancer. In addition, 15.6% of residents have been diagnosed with diabetes compared to the 12.3% state rate. Diabetes was identified as a community health issue, particularly among the uninsured, Black residents, and those living at the southern end of the parish. Also, 40.8% of residents are considered obese compared to the state rate of 31.7% Other health disparities include mental health, depression, and anxiety.

Globalization has improved the lives of women around the world, specifically, those in developing countries. However, women consistently remain at a disadvantage when it comes to many things such as: employment, education, and overall societal treatment. According to “Gender Statistics”, an article by the United States Agency for International Development, girls are four percent less likely than boys to complete primary school. Additionally, due to the fact that maternity care is not offered in several different countries across the globe, 529,000 women die each year due to pregnancy complications and childbirth. (Gender Statistics.) These challenges are not only faced in the United States, but all across the world, and that needs to change.

In the healthcare sector, gender equality is based on providing equal opportunities for men and women in all areas or settings. Gender can be defined as those characteristics of men and women that are socially constricted and determined while sex is associated with characteristics that are biologically determined. There is a lack of demand and support for advanced research on women health and diseases, specifically decision makers, support staff, or even researchers and authors. Many young women and adolescents have found it difficult to access, utilize, or even make their own decisions in context to reproductive health, specifically abortions, unsafe pregnancies, and pacing. Women and men from low-income, culturally background, and poor socio-economic conditions are deprived of basic healthcare facilities. In the past decade, gender inequality in the healthcare sector has been associated with age, poverty, socioeconomic condition, and ethnic diversity of men and women. Gender inequality is not only restricted to healthcare access and utilization but also affects men and women who seek employment opportunities. In most cases, only men are dominant in working for specific healthcare positions. Contribution from women healthcare workers or staff is lower compared to the male workforce that is huge in many areas of the healthcare system. There is a lack of services and products for women and men coming from culturally minority or low-income groups.