Identify And Explain The Importance Of Health Disparities

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

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.

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).

risk factors for disease and injury, socioeconomic status, access to health care use due to

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

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

While there is no clear definition of what health disparities are, Healthy People 2020 defines them as “differences that occur by gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, geographic location, or sexual orientation” (Adler, 2008). Health disparities are not determined by solely biological differences, but rather more attributed to the environment surrounding a person. The public health industry is so concerned about racial health disparities that stem from the social environment

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.

Minorities in America (African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos/Hispanic, etc.), are experiencing health disparities and these disparities are proving to be alarmingly fatal and too endemic to ignore; heart disease and stroke are statically most common in greater numbers among people of color. Health disparities among minorities associated with heart disease and stroke stem from social stresses of life (i.e. job security, transportation, living wage, safety as well as affordable living, quality education, food availability, social safety and supportive connections), which also, in turn, impact risky health behaviors and unhealthy patterns associated with daily living. These factors of disparities, according to American Heart Associations (2017), are linked to a number of complex factors that include income and education, genetic and physiological factors, access to care, and communication barriers (Para 3). Communication barriers with Hispanic/Latino and some older Native Americans can cause for doctors visits to be difficult due to limited English, it makes it twice as hard to educate patient with the importance of proper eating and daily health maintenance.

Health Disparities Amongst Adolescent Pregnancies Health disparities are of significant concern to both the financial and physical well being of our population nationally and globally. One population vulnerable to health disparities includes adolescents who have become pregnant and those who live lifestyles that place them at risk for becoming pregnant. This paper defines health disparity, discusses social determinants of health for adolescents who are pregnant or at risk for becoming pregnant, and the health disparity that exists amongst this population. A health disparity can be defined as what occurs when explicit population groups experience poorer morbidity and mortality rates, and worse health outcomes. Individuals from different population groups may endure the same health condition to the same extent, but one may lack adequate resources, face prejudices, and have poor health habits resulting in a poor health outcome.

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