National Standard For Increasing Cultural Competence

Racial /ethnical disparity in health
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Racial/ethnical disparity in health
Health disparities can be taken to mean the preventable differences in the health status of different groups of people. However, healthy people 2020 define a health disparity as a given type of health difference that is closely associated with social, economic and environmental disadvantage. Health disparities are a great obstacle to the health of the various groups of people. Health disparities include but are not limited to gender, sexual orientation, geographical location, age, racial or ethnic group, socio-economic status, and religion. The paper is set to discuss racial or ethnic group as a health disparity, highlighting how it has led to the poor health outcome while at the same time pointing out how it is eradicated to ensure equal healthcare for all.
Racial /ethnical discrimination in healthcare is a matter of concern as it acts as a blockage which prevents people from some ethnic groups from attaining proper health and health care. Racial disparity among the black and whites have occurred over a period from the time of slavery. In the US, racial segregation determines the socio-economic status of a group and therefore leads to the racial disparity in the health sector. The fact that people from a given ethnic group are associated with poverty denies such a group a chance of education and good employment (National Center for Health Statistics, 2016). Their chance of getting access to good healthcare is therefore limited. Discrimination by race and ethnic background has been an issue of great concern in the United States over the years.
Racial/ethnic background as a health disparity has led to poor health outcome in various ways. Environmental racism, with an intentional or unintentional target of the minority communities, has led to the creation of discriminating environmental policies and regulations. These policies predispose the minority groups to higher chances of infection. For instance, the exclusion of the people with color from the public service board and designing of the waste disposal points in proximity to the residential area of a given ethnic group. Such people have a greater exposure to health risk and at most times a limited access to proper healthcare services. The fact that the minority groups have been discriminated against when it comes to the provision of HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives has contributed to their overre...