Health Disparities in the US
Health disparities are defined as variations in the incidence, prevalence, and outcomes of various illnesses, ailments, and other issues connected to one’s health among population groups. Health inequalities also take into account variations in the quality and accessibility of healthcare services, such as screening, treatment, and management by distinct groups. Health disparities exist in the US across a number of sociocultural factors, such as gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class, and race/ethnicity.
While the main burden of the current gaps definitely falls on those who are directly impacted, such inequities also affect the nation, making the study of health disparities in the US in respect to gender and race essential. Moreover, health disparities also limit improvements in the overall quality of health as well as care for the broader population and in most instances results in unnecessary costs. According to statistics, the US population is becoming more diverse, and people of color or rather people from different races are projected to account for approximately half of the US population by 2045. Therefore, essential to understanding the relationship between social factors such as gender and race and the existing disparities in health to address the problem.
Sources:
Gomez, L. E. (2013). Mapping Race: Critical Approaches to Health Disparities Research. Rutgers University Press.
Laura’s book gives an insight about race and health disparities research and shows the different biomedical studies that have differential rates in terms of a race such as diabetes in whites is around 6.2%, Mexican Americans is 10.6%, and African Americans is 10.8. She also explains that there is evidence that medical care and the environment are what causes race-based health disparities. Black neighborhoods have fewer facilities with medical equipment for early detection of diseases, and the available ones are inferior compared to white neighborhoods thus the number of blacks with diseases like breast cancer is high. One of the strengths of the source is that through Laura’s viewing of race as socially constructed, there is the justification of racial hierarchy and inequality in different instances and regions. In the past, health disparities were noted based on gender, but it was difficult to make conclusions because it is difficult to find a specific gene to associate it with a disease. Through looking at race as socially constructed, it makes it easy to understand the health differences in terms of health.
Barr, D. A. (2014). Health disparities in the United States: Social class, race, ethnicity, and health. JHU Press.
In Donald’s Book, he explains that the blacks in America have higher rates of blood pressure compared to the whites. Around 40.6% of the black men have high blood pressure while the percentage of black women with high blood pressure is 43.5%. However, blacks from sub-Saharan Africa have low hypertension rates and may be at a lower risk of getting high blood pressure. One of the strengths of this book is that it covers different aspects of disparities such as high blood pressure, infant mortality differences, and breast cancer between blacks, whites, and Hispanics thus giving broad results. One limitation of this book is that it does not cover the numerous health disparities that exist based on gender yet they are present in the society. This book is very crucial to gender and racial based disparities because it gives insight that such as blacks from other parts of the world have a lower tendency of getting some health complications like hypertension compared to blacks in the U.S. This evidence shows that the health disparities only occur to races in America.
Ikemoto, L. (2006). In the Shadow of Race: Women of Color in Health Disparities Policy. The University of California.
In the article “In the Shadow of Race: Women of Color in Health Disparities Policy. The University of California”, Ikemoto points out that, health care access, biomedical research, and the quality of care, are some of the health arenas mediated by racism. According to the article, gender is also a significant contributor to the rising cases of health disparities in the US. The article also explores a history of women health disparities as well as some of the earliest initiatives developed by the US government to reduce health disparities throughout the American history during eras such as the civil rights era. One of the strengths of the article is based on the fact that it utilizes research from other authors, thereby, making it more credible. However, despite this strength, the article lacks a logical flow of ideas. This essay will be used to discuss the relationship between race, gender, and health.
National Academy of Sciences. (2017). The State of Health Disparities in the United States. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425844/
The article argues that although the US has witnessed significant progress in narrowing the existing health disparities, the elimination of these disparities is yet to be achieved. According to the article, behavioral differences between the two genders, affect not only the epidemiology but also the manifestation and pathophysiology of some of the widespread disease. The article also maintains that most of the non-biological health disparities emerged from existing socioeconomic and behavioral conditions that tend to shape gender differences such as the gender pay gap and violence victimization as well as alcohol abuse. The article can be considered as valid as it draws its conclusion from statistical findings by various authors. Moreover, the article is also diverse as it explores other factors such as racism and ethnicity in health disparities; therefore, it will be essential in analyzing the racial and gender-based health disparities.
Sternthal, M. & Williams, D. R. (2010). Understanding Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health: Sociological Contributions. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468327/
According to the article “Understanding Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health: Sociological Contributions” by Williams and Sternthal, existing racial differences in health can be dated to some of the US earliest health records which indicate African Americans were having what can be termed as poorer health as compared to the whites. The article provides an understanding of how racism directly affects health, and the impact of the migration histories of various populations and status can affect health. One of the strengths of the article is the fact that it explicitly draws on the existing literature in the field of sociology regarding racism and conceptualizes the information acquired in a multilevel construct. This multilevel construct centers on the impact of individual and institutional discrimination as well as stereotypes and racial prejudice on an individual’s health. This article will therefore, be applied in the research of how racism and gender contribute to the health disparities.
Understanding of the University Policy
I have understood the university policies regarding plagiarism and intellectual integrity as plagiarism entails the reproducing of intellectual material by another person without acknowledgment. To avoid plagiarism, throughout my work I have acknowledged all the sources used. All the views and insights of the different authors regarding gender and racial based health disparities in the U.S have been appropriately cited. Also, I did not copy passages or use paraphrases without acknowledging the sources. Moreover, all the sources used were scholarly and thus, credible. Academic integrity is highly valued at the university, and each student is supposed to have unique ideas and properly attribute any academic works, concerning this, my essay was created from scratch using my personal ideas and thoughts. Since this was a personal assignment, I did not seek help or collaborate with other students during the making of my essay.
References
Barr, D. A. (2014). Health disparities in the United States: Social class, race, ethnicity, and health. JHU Press.
Gomez, L. E. (2013). Mapping Race: Critical Approaches to Health Disparities Research. Rutgers University Press.
Ikemoto, L. (2006). In the Shadow of Race: Women of Color in Health Disparities Policy. The University of California.
National Academy of Sciences. (2017). The State of Health Disparities in the United States. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425844/
Sternthal, M. & Williams, D. R. (2010). Understanding Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health: Sociological Contributions. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468327/
