Health Disparities And Its Effects On America - 1327 Words

Growing up, my dad always told me that we were the lucky ones. At the age of 15, he escaped from Vietnam, leaving with only the clothes on his back. Saigon fell to the north, sending people in a final desperate exodus. He would say â€Å"If the mines didn’t kill me, the bullets surely would. If the bullets didn’t kill me, drowning would and if drowning didn’t kill me, dehydration would.† In spite of the possibilities faced by thousands like him, my dad made it onto the US Navy ship. While my parents had escaped the war, we faced a different conflict in acclimation. My dad struggled to keep a job. We could barely afford rent, nevertheless see a doctor. For some people, â€Å"health disparities† can be described in terms of statistics and terms like â€Å"preventative care† and â€Å"optimizing accessibility†. For my family, â€Å"health disparities† was just a part of life in America. It was the uselessness I felt as I watched m y dad work 80 hours a week at several minimum wage jobs just so my brother and I could focus on school. It was the frustration I felt spending hours in vain researching ways to ease my mother’s pain as she suffered from years of untreated stomach ulcers. It was the worry I felt knowing that, despite ranking among the top 10% of students in my high school class, I still could not afford to go to college. In spite of everything, I am one of the lucky ones as I was able to fully fund my college education in scholarships and grants. I am lucky because these experiences taught meShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Racism1095 Words   |  5 Pagesnegative effects in the mental and physical public health of African-Americans, and yet are rarely discussed. Hiding or ignoring the impact of racism on public health disparities is not the same as fighting against them. It is allowing them to be repeated without consequence. The effects of structural racism can be detrimental to the education of children in certain neighborhoods and communities. Structural racism such as socioeconomic status, racialized police violence and health disparities give African-AmericansRead MoreRace And Race Relations : The Root Of Public Health Crises785 Words   |  4 PagesI would shy away from an in-depth conversation about race and race relations in social situations. I would participate in class, when studying race and health disparities, however when stepped out of the classroom and converse amongst my peers, I became more reserved. There’s something about asking those hard questions and discussing disparities as a result of oppressions and transgressions which made me uncomfortable to talk about race outside of the structured, politically-correct world of academiaRead MorePublic And Universal Healthcare System Essay1206 Words   |  5 Pageslack of health insurance coverage cause many Americans to choose to live without insurance to save money for everyday expenses beside healthc are. Without health insurance, people do not have access to quality healthcare. Most citizens are aware of the issues in the healthcare system, but the disagreement comes when discussing how the best approach on ameliorating the system. Some believe that a more public and universal healthcare system is the best approach. Others believe that America works bestRead MoreSocial Inequality And Educational Opportunity And Health1577 Words   |  7 Pageslived in their everyday life preferably thinking that there is no class stratification within America. They have thought that they no longer have those social classes that existed like a century ago (Ervin 7). Acknowledging the various social strata most often people prefer to ignore the disparity that is associated with them. Historically, social disparities relate to educational opportunity and health. However, a lot of improvements have been made in the social institutions and structures benefitingRead MoreDiversification Continues To Rise In The United States1626 Words   |  7 Pagesin poverty effects individual and population health. Additionally, health disparities are growing and impacting the health care field. Cultural competency and communication across language barriers are influential in producing quality care for socioeconomically challenged minorities. However, educational attainment and health literacy are the most influential factors for minorities’ well-being. Better quality of care for minorities ultimately results in an improvement in population health. Keywords:Read MoreWhere You Live Influences Health and Well-Being Essay1685 Words   |  7 PagesSocial science has proven that where you live can influence your health and well-being in either a positive or negative way. Living in poverty and growing up in a deprived neighbourhood has a direct link to various social problems such as a lack of employment opportunities, poor housing conditions, educational problems, lack of amenities, and not feeling safe in your neighbourhood. These disparities are especially prevalent amongst minority communities due to their lower socioeconomic status (CDC)Read MoreInequity: Ethnic and Racial Disparity in American Health Care1405 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferences (or disparities) rampant throughout our nation’s health care system. These disparities can sometimes indicate that there is unequal treatment of Americans in our nation. In 2002, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) published the leading report, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. The report proved there is in-fact, racial and ethnic disparities in American health care, and amid the many health care services available. Disparities in health care are of-courseRead MoreThe Patient Protection Affordable Care Act Essay1476 Words   |  6 Pagesimproving outcomes and reducing cost. Health disparities in the U.S. range from HIV/ Aids to obesity. The minority population typically has a disproportional burden of the HIV/ Aids epidemic ( Wetle Scanlan 2013). Disparities in healthcare are among the lines of access to care, treatment, preventive measures, and medicine. Several research projects were used to examine how ones race, neighborhood, or social classes affect their quality of care, and health outcomes ( Wetle Scanlan , 2013). ItRead MoreEssay about Health Promotions Among Diverse Populations1555 Words   |  7 PagesRunning Header: Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations 1 Health Promotions among Diverse Populations Sheila S Erickson RN Grand Canyon University: NRS-429V-OL191 June 20, 2015 Health Promotions Among Diverse Populations 2 Marginalization of the Native American population is a result of colonialism; they were considered to be ignorant and hostiles by the â€Å"White† settlers, forced to live on reservations, lost their culture and values through assimilation and stripped of their rights in societyRead MoreAdvocating For A Diverse Patient. Nurses Faces Ethical1236 Words   |  5 Pagesthis paper is to discuss ethical dilemmas with the current state of population along with health disparities. In addition, the discussion of the pros and cons of the foundation of the Affordable Care Act and how it affects people culturally. Last of all; explain how social justice principles and rights of humans may reduce health disparities. Ethical dilemmas come in all shapes and forms. Ethics of health care comes down to the concept of doing no harm along with doing good for others. Yet, a nurse/doctor