Health Care Disparities
I will start by defining the phrase health disparities also known to many as health disparity. It refers to the gaps in the value of health and health care across cultural, sexual orientation, ethnicity and socioeconomic clusters. The services administration and health resources also have their unique definition. They define health disparities as the resident’s precise differences in the existence of diseases, right to use to health care, or vigor outcomes (Foreman, 2006).
African-American culture being one of the minority groups in the United States is associated with numerous disparities. For example, it has a higher occurrence of chronic diseases, inferior health outcomes, and higher transience. It is reported that African –Americans aged 65-75 are more likely to have diabetes as compared to the whites. HIV/AIDS is another disparity killing mostly African –American women aged 25-34.It is said that more than 64% African-American infants are infected. This is mainly as a result of poverty making African-American (women) to engage into sexual intercourses so as to get gifts and other favors. The African- American has larger percentages without health insurance compared with whites. This could be caused by the high poverty level associated with African-American culture. As a result of these health disparities, the African- Americans are more likely not to secure dependable jobs. They are exposed to discrimination and cultural barriers conditions that torments them psychologically. Due to their high rates in health disparities, potential employers are turned away in employing-they see them as people with lower productivity due to poor health and early death (Foreman, 2006).
African Americans children with disabilities all too often experience insufficient services, low quality curriculum and coaching, avoidable segregation from their nondisabled students and privation. African American students are about twice as likely as white students to be educated in a limiting, and separate educational location. They also have high rate of school disciplinary action being enacted on them. Hence, these disparities have been causing high suspensions rate among African –American students. These disparities cause the African-American students to have lower quality level of education as compared to the Whites’ children. Note that lower level of education also contributes highly to getting minimal chances in the job markets (Foreman, 2006).
One of the interventions that should be implemented in the fight against these disparities is coming up with Community health workers. These community health workers should be recruited from African-American culture and offered with the necessary training so as to be part of the health care provider in the community. This invention would at the long run promote health equity and leadership roles. One of the major challenges in implementing this intervention is sourcing for reliable donors to fund it and fighting the persistent racism in the society. The second intervention would be integrating the African –Americans culture and the health care unit so as to work as a unit. It is reported that the two have not been compatible for a long time. This could be achieved through educating the people on the importance that the health care unit has towards them-culturally modified. The main challenge when implementing this intervention would be fighting the problem caused by discrimination and language barriers. Women should not be left and the intervention of mind body should be employed to assist them in reducing stress thereby controlling the disparities caused by stress (Foreman, 2006).
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References
Health care disparities a briefing . (2010).Washington, .C.: U .S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Foreman, M. G., & Willsie, S.K. (2006).Health care disparities: respiratory health care
disparities: respiratory health in minorities. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Smedley, B.D., Stith, A.Y., & Nelson, A.R. (2003).Unequal treatment confronting racial and
ethnic disparities in health care. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
