Health Disparities And The Health

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (Kassandra, A., 2015), the issue of health disparities have impacted many people’s lives in the community where the minority groups do not have equal access to the quality health care. These

Barriers in health care can lead to disparities in meeting health needs and receiving appropriate care, including preventive services and the prevention of unnecessary hospitalizations (HealthyPeople.gov, 2012). In their 2008 annual report, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality lists several disparities’ in health care. They report that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States

SOCIAL JUSTICE refers to the concept of a society in which justice is involved or achieved in every aspect in life. As part of individuality in the society they have to have social justice

Although, they are totally differences. Health disparities and disparities in health care involve differences in health care and health care among populations. The difference in "health" and "health care" is related, but not uniform and concept. "Health disparity" is a higher burden of illness, injury, disability or death attributable to a population group that is related to another person. A "health care disparity" often refers to differences between health insurance groups, access to and use of care, and quality of care. More specifically, health and health disparities often address unexplained differences due to changes in health care needs, client preferences, or treatment recommendations. . Some related terms, such as inequalities in health and inequity in health, are also often used interchangeably to describe socially determined or considered differences that are unnecessary, avoidable or unfair. (Artiga,

Although most American citizens today associate racial and ethnic disparities in public health care quality with socioeconomic status, a majority of studies performed conclude that these discrepancies are still highly prevalent when the factor of one’s socioeconomic status is taken out of the equation. Health disparities for a certain minority result in a higher number of illness, injury, and even mortality for that race or ethnicity in comparison to white Americans; therefore, health care disparities can be defined as differences between groups in health coverage, specifically focusing on both the quality and access to care. The Office of Management and Budget has created two ethnic categories for all American citizens to fit into, being either

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or in opportunities to achieve optimal health experienced by socially disadvantaged racial, ethnic, and other population groups, and communities” (CDC, 2017).  It  is easy to believe that control on overall health relies solely on making  a firm decision (the “right” decision" to lead a healthy lifestyle— by being active and eating a balanced-diet. There are other factors to be considered in evaluating and understanding health disparities: why people seem to be noncompliant? Or why people aren’t seeking medical attention in a timely manner?  In reading

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.

Social justice is the equitable distribution of health care in a societal responsibility. This can be best achieved by letting a central agency, generally the government, take over the production and distribution functions.

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.

The disparities are around us every day and unless we educate ourselves and our communities these disparities will continue to wreak havoc on our neighborhoods and in the future, we will just be putting our kids and their kids in a continuing cycle of ignorance when we could have done more if it’s just educating the community we leave in, that alone could be enough to turn the tides in our people favor. In turn, I would hope this paper enlighten you on what is going on in our neighborhood and what we can do to correct this issue to preserve our autonomy. Racial and ethnic health disparities undermine what a healthcare system should stand for. Although the top three causes and seven of the 10 leading causes of death are the same for African Americans and whites, the risk factors and incidence, morbidity, and mortality rates for these diseases and injuries often are greater among blacks than whites (MMWR, 2005). Health disparities refer to differences in disease risks, incidence, morbidity, and mortality but most of all for the sake of this paper unequal access to quality health insurance amongst African American in the United States, which will also go hand and hand with the social and economic disadvantages. The disadvantages of health disparities usually affect people of African American descent who have systemically experienced a greater social and economic obstacle to health care.

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.

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.

Social Justice is the fair and proper recognition of current laws, and focuses on the fact that all people, no matter of their ethnic origin, gender, possessions, race or religion are to be treated with great equality. Social Justice aims to remove prejudice to particular people who share the natural law of their race, gender, religion etc.

Health disparity between different countries remains a significant population health and wellness issue. The disparity is evidenced by various health and well-being outcomes such as mortality rates, incidences and prevalence of diseases, and life expectancy among other indicators. The disparity has continued to expand despite various global initiatives targeting the reduction of particular global health issues such as child mortality as well as the advancement and globalization of health care. It is hypothesized that various empowerment enhance population health and well-being and thus health and wellness status of particular countries can be linked to significant increase or decrease of empowerment measures. Some of the primary empowerment measures associated with the level of health and well-being outcomes include rights and civil liberties, freedom, education, income inequality, and controlling per cap GDP.