Health Disparities and Education in Societies Jori Yslas Denver School of Nursing Health Disparities and Education in Societies In any society in the world today health disparities are constantly being encountered. Health disparity is a term used for disease and mortality as it commonly refers to differences in groups of people, races, cultures, societies, economic class, educational levels, etc. Generally, health disparities are compared with more advanced countries and what those cultures have and how other cultures are behind and living without any advancement. Health disparities have been around since the world first evolved, but now those studies have been further researched. In consideration of the evolving research, health disparity is now sometimes referred to as health inequality due to the diverse levels of advancement, medical care, and education that various cultures receive. There are now a vast variety of resources available to conduct research on any said subject involving health disparities in general. Anyone can find a disparity in any subject; it just depends on what side of the spectrum each individual falls on. Health Disparities in Education Howard, Levine, Davis, and Peek (2003) found that young people increasingly use the Internet to get health information. Teens were more likely to approach health issues at a better angle when they were able to conduct the research themselves. They were also more likely to talk to others, including their
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing, and not just the absence of disease” (WHO, 1974). Health inequalities are the differences in health or healthcare opportunities in different societies this may be due to income,
Potter and Perry (2017) states, “Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health.” Health disparity is experienced by social disadvantaged populations. These vulnerable populations can include race or ethnicity, gender, education, income, disability, and geographic location (Potter & Perry, 2017, p. 33). The Banes family
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.
Many factors contribute to differing racial and ethnic health needs, including culture norms, religious mandates, and health disparities. The health disparities refers to specific differences in disease incidence, health outcomes, quality of health care and access to health care services that exist across racial and ethnic groups (Mandal, 2014). Disparities may result from inadequate access to care, poor quality of care, cultural issues and social determinants.
Health disparities endure tenacious issues in the United States of America, setting certain groups at higher risk of being uninsured, limited access to care, facing a poorer quality of care, and overall negative health outcomes. The high incidence of health disparities reflects the range of individual, social, economic, racial/ethnic and environmental magnitudes. Among the minority groups, African-Americans disproportionately access health care and the health disparities clearly glow in the nationwide.
Healthy People 2020 basically describes a health disparity as a difference in health trends in a community that is closely related to low socio-economics. Disparities adversely affect populations who have experienced greater obstacles to health based on their socioeconomic status, age, mental health or other characteristics historically linked to systematic discrimination or exclusion (Healthy People 2020).
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “health equity is achieved when every person has the opportunity to attain his or her full health potential and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). Satcher (2010) reports that health inequities are “systematic, avoidable, and unjust” disparities (p. 6). He also states that the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that social conditions are the most important determinant of a person’s health. Social conditions “determine access to health services and influence lifestyle choices” (Satcher, 2010, p. 6). These determinants must be addressed in order to reduce health inequity. Inequity can be
For this paper and hereinafter health disparity is defined as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health 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.”(healthypeople.gov). This definition is from Healthy People 2020, the guide for the Nation’s health promotion.
A health disparity according to Healthy People 2020 is “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage” and most commonly affects groups of people that have been faced with
One of the major obstacles for researchers in the field of Health Psychology and Aging is understanding the role of health disparities across different populations. Health disparities can be understood in terms of differences in some facet of health and well-being across different groups of people. The issue of health disparities across different populations is one that must be understood not only in the context of genetic and biological factors, but also in the context of a broader sociocultural perspective. The influence of health disparities are implied in the context of aging, but are discussed across the entire lifespan. The existence of health disparities in later life is often a product of a lifelong experience and life-course trajectory. This essay will address some of the major
The difference in health outcomes and the determinants between parts of a population caused by social, demographic, environmental and geographic characteristics is defined as health disparities (Dore & Eisenhardt,2015). Societal, economic, and political forces impact social determinants. (Dore & Eisenhardt, 2015) have indicated that health inequities are avoidable and preventable when appropriate actions are taken to lower the risk of illness.
Health disparities are the inequalities that appear in the arrangement of healthcare and approaches to healthcare across different racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and socioeconomic group.
Health inequalities are preventable and unjust differences in health status experienced by certain population groups. People in lower socio-economic groups are more likely to experience health inequalities than people in higher socio-economic classes. Health inequalities are not only found between people of different
Borzekowski, a professor of public health at the University of Maryland, emphasized that “We should be able to provide kids with better, independent online health resources.” (Borzekowski) 55% of teenagers responded that they got majority of health information from their parents, school health classes, and medical providers over Internet. This can be attributed to the frustration with what they found online with different sites saying different things. If only reliable health information can be presented online, more teenagers will obtain appropriate health knowledge independently and alter their behaviors
A disparity can be defined as a difference, an inequality, a discrepancy, a gap, or an inconsistency. Within individual cultures, there are health disparities, or specific differences of a population in the existence of health outcomes, disease, health care access, and value of health care services existing across ethnic and racial groups. Disparities can stand for ineffectiveness within the system of health care and thus accounting for unnecessary costs. (Douglas and Paquiao, 2010) The Filipino culture has numerous factors leading to insufficient access to care and reduced quality of care, some of them being cultural habits concerning diet, language, and screening rates, as well as behavioral and mental health. Every culture has its own traditional beliefs and values amongst which can be shared transculturally to better international health whereas there are also those that are influenced by the Filipino culture that can be seen as non beneficial to future generations.