Case Report 1-Health Inequity in Children and Young People DR. UZMA AMIR
Health Inequity
Health inequity means avoidable factors in provision of better and fair health services to an individual or a community. These factors include lack of resources, medicines or health care facilities, low finances, lower socioeconomic status, geographical area, uneducated population or cultural beliefs which result in high rates of mortality and morbidity in a particular group of a community.
According to WHO, health inequities are avoidable inequalities in health status between population groups. These inequities arise from inequalities and between societies. Socioeconomic conditions and their effects on life of an individual determine the
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His birth was by SVD without any complication, cried immediately after birth. He has been given only BCG vaccine after birth and was not immunised for the follow up scheduled vaccines, nutrition and development was normal. No allergic reaction reported before. He has 3 siblings and live in a crowded home with 15 household members. He belonged to a poor family with no chronic condition in a family.
On Examination:
Weight: 10.5 kg (at 50th percentile) height is 82 cm (at 46th percentile).
T: 102o F, HR: 95beats / minutes, RR: 54 breaths / minutes, oxygen saturation 94%.
AB was generally appeared lethargic, mildly dehydrated and dyspneic. Cyanosis has been noted at end of cough bouts. Whooping sound on inspiration has been observed during cough. His ENT examination revealed only mild inflammation of pharynx. His respiratory examination revealed centrally located trachea, vesicular breath sound with mild crepitation at left side and chest in drawing .His cardiovascular and abdominal examination detected no abnormality.
He was diagnosed clinically with whooping cough with pneumonia and dehydration.
To confirm that some investigation needed, nasopharyngeal swab for PCR and Urea, creatinine and electrolytes were advised but unfortunately only full blood examination and chest X-ray has done due to financial issues of the family. The X-ray was suggestive of pneumonia.
The management included hospital admission, oxygen inhalation, antibiotics, IV fluids
“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,
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.
These inequities in health and social indicators are perfect examples of the affect of political and economic factors that influence access to health services (Browne and Fiske 2001).
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.
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
A variety of challenges including personal, social, economic, and environmental factors can determine the health of an individual as well as its community. Others determinants of health include genetics, access to medical care, and socioeconomic measures such as education and poverty. Any interference among these factors can often lead to health disparities, which are health gaps that exist between different communities and populations. Health disparities can affect communities based on gender, age, race, social status, economic status, or special care needs. Therefore to understand which factors affect the health of a community, it is necessary to examine the social and economic conditions in which people live in, as well as the rates of diseases
According to the provider, the claimant's cough has been improved. His review of systems was positive for fatigue, malaise, sleep difficulty, shortness of breath, wheezes, and a cough. His blood pressure was 115/71 mmHg and his BMI was 30.35 kg/m2. The physical examination revealed wheezes. Clonazepam was prescribed for agitation. Atorvastatin, Nystatin, Citalopram, and a probiotic were prescribed. Continued use of Aspirin and a regular inhaler were suggested. Further, a follow-up visit with Endocrinology, Cardiology, and Pulmonology. As it relates to a spot in his lung, a repeat CT scan was recommended. The bronchial washes were negative for
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
Health Disparities, a term most common in the United States (Public Health Reports), is known as the difference or inequality that is justified by using people’s race, gender, age, rank, and socioeconomic status. In other words, it known as injustice in the health care services. Inequality within health care access has been a topic for years due to noticeable inequality. Inequality in health care for mother’s ranges from age, race, income status, and education. When the health care providers has the ability to deny service to anyone they feel cannot benefit the provider or the mother, this is where a disparity becomes the outstanding limit of injustice.
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.
What does the term health disparities mean? Health disparities means that the value of equal health opportunity is not present. This means that all groups of race, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, gender, religion and ethnicity may be unequal in health status. groups should be equal in the way they receive care, thus should also relatively have the same level of health. Health disparities may vary depending of risky behavior during the adolescent phase.
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
G.M. was then immediately transferred to Rady Children’s hospital Emergency Room by her parents. Upon nursing assessment she presented with vital signs within the same range from her clinic visit. These were repeated every fifteen minutes until stable. Her skin was flushed and diaphoretic. Mucous membranes appeared dry with significant skin cracking around the mouth. Patient was alert and oriented times three and pupils were equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation. Her breath sounds were clear and equal bilaterally, with no adventitious sounds noted. However, patient G.M. appeared to have