Health Promotion in the Black/African American Population

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Health Promotion in the Black/African American Population
Ethnic minority groups often experience challenges in different aspects of daily living. This includes the accessibility of quality health care and the various factors that influence the overall health status of the population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is a gap between ethnic minority groups, such as Asian Americans, Alaskan Natives, and African Americans, and their White counterparts in the society which affects the level of care that they can have access to. There are inequities brought about by socioeconomic, educational, cultural, and sociopolitical factors that increase the risk of the ethnic minority population to various diseases and health concerns (2021). In this paper, the status of healthcare and health promotion in the Black/African American population will be discussed in detail.
Current Health Status of African Americans
Race and ethnicity influence the health of African Americans because this population is predisposed to certain diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular accidents (Carnethon et al., 2017). In addition to biological factors, the culture and behavior of a specific ethnicity also have an effect on their overall health and their behavior towards health and wellness.
The health disparities that African Americans are exposed to are obesity, heart disease, mother/infant mortality during childbirth, early onset of diabetes mellitus, and cancer, among many others (Taylor et al., 2021). Other factors such as racism, health literacy, and poverty also present an impact on the health outcomes and current risk of diseases of this population (Maness et al., 2021).
The nutritional choices of the African American population are also an important factor to consider when discussing the health of the population. There is high exposure to fast-food restaurant meals and fatty foods without much nutritional value that contributes to the high rates of mortality and other health conditions (Kris‐Etherton et al., 2020). In addition to this, there is also a lack of healthy food options that are available for African Americans who will want to opt for healthier food choices.
Barriers to Quality Healthcare
The level of income and accessibility of affordable medical care are barriers to the African American population. The health insurance coverage of African Americans is identified to be much lower than the usual coverage for the White population. Poverty is one of the reasons that the African American population experiences limitations in their healthcare. However, it is not only because of financial matters, but an identified racial issue that results in African Americans being at a disadvantage when it comes to health insurance coverage, access to healthcare facilities like emergency rooms, and obtaining medications or other medical services (Shepherd et al., 2018).
The accessibility of information about health because of a lack of quality education is a barrier that has a huge influence on how African Americans view the healthcare system. There is...