African American health care status has improved gradually, and the mortality rate has declined. CDC recorded that the mortality rate has reduced by 25% in the past two decades for people above 65. Similarly, the report revealed that the mortality rate among African Americans among youth is associated with many predisposing factors, such as drug and substance abuse. From 20 years to 40 years, most African Americans are dying out of chronic diseases due to disparity in accessing healthcare services.
Initially, African Americans’ diagnosis and treatment have been ethically profiled, leading to insufficient clinical interventions among the Blacks, resulting in an untimely death. The health disparities are associated with social and economic status related to African Americans. For example, there is a likelihood of African Americans accessing health services due to financial constraints compared to Whites. There is no equality in accessing health services in the USA. Therefore, the purpose of the research paper is to explore the healthcare services of African Americans. Additionally, the study will explore health disparities, barriers, and cultural beliefs that affect healthcare quality.
Health status of African American
The CDC’s current research shows that African Americans’ health status has been improving from 1999 to 2019. For example, African Americans dying from heart disease were 43%, 29% by cancer, and 41% by stroke. Some social factors posing health risks at younger ages include poverty, unemployment, lack of homeownership, and smoking. Besides, there are disparities in healthcare services related to chronic conditions and mental health (Wagner, Noonan, & Velasco-Mondragon, 2016). The differences result from systematic inequality that has dominated the United States in the previous decades regarding economic status, healthcare system, and housing. Mitigating the challenges may require a holistic approach to addressing racial discrimination, environmental degradation, poverty, and segregation. However, COVID-19 has worsened the situation.
Influence of race and ethnicity on health care services for African American
Race and ethnicity have affected the delivery of healthcare services to minority groups. For example, health coverage in 2017 revealed that 10.6% of African Americans lacked a health coverage scheme, with 44.1% benefiting from the state’s health coverage. 12.1% of African Americans lacked health insurance, especially older adults aged 65. Besides, 12.6% of the African American children had Asthma compared to 7.7% of whites (Muncan, 2018).
Health disparities and nutritional challenges
Adverse health conditions measure health disparities in the United States, the burden of diseases, mortality, prevalence, and incidences. Racial and ethnic perspectives majorly contribute to it. There are high prices of healthcare that are inaccessible to African Americans due to low income. Individuals living with disabilities have poor health services, as 28% are not insecure, according to the CDC (2020). Health disparities are evident from premature death and high rates of chronic diseases among African Americans. The nutritional challenges affecting African Americans are overweight. Obesity alongside cardiovascular disease is a risk factor for diabetes and metabolic syndrome (Velasco-Mondragon, Escamilla-Cejudo, Davis, & Palladino-Davis, 2016). Diet-related disparities are fundamental contributors leading to adverse health outcomes for African Americans compared to whites.
Barriers to assessing health services
The socioeconomic status of African Americans is the main factor resulting in health disparities. There is a difference in tertiary care and prevention among people of various socioeconomic classes. Similarly, other barriers include personal health practices, perceived illness, community resources, personal resources, attitudes and health beliefs, social structure variables, and demographic factors. Inadequate insurance coverage is challenging because most African Americans are low-income earners (Velasco-Mondragon, Escamilla-Cejudo, Davis, & Palladino-Davis, 2016). A low level of education is also a challenge because clinical interventions can be successfully carried out depending on parents’ awareness.
Promotional health activities
The nursing profession has been promoting African Americans ‘ health by providing screenings, education, and community assessment services. According to Health People (2020), the primary goals and objectives are to provide universal health care to all Americans. Besides, some people have been engrossed in traditional methods, remedies, and self-treatment practices, which may pose significant challenges.
A practical approach to health promotion prevention
The social-economic model best addresses primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare promotion and prevention. The model focuses on how individual factors relate to a particular environment and community (Wagner, Noonan, & Velasco-Mondragon, 2016). The approach is practical for African Americans as it addresses economic stability, social community context, education, neighborhood, and environment. Eventually, qualified health and healthcare services are implemented depending on the necessities of a particular community.
Cultural practices for creating a care plan
Cultural competency skills help in providing equitable healthcare services. For example, understanding the symbols, norms, values, beliefs, and traditions of African Americans can affect an effective healthcare plan. Nurses should become sensitive to multiculturalism to provide better healthcare to lie with cultural competence (Muncan, 2018). Based on the transcultural nursing theory, nurses will develop cultural competence that guides nursing practices worldwide.
Overall, the healthcare status of African Americans has gradually improved in the USA. However, healthcare services are challenged due to race and ethnic segregation, inadequate health insurance, and socioeconomic factors. Finally, health promotion should be based on a transcultural nursing model in improving health care for minority groups.
References #
Muncan, B. (2018). Cardiovascular disease in racial/ethnic minority populations: illness burden and overview of community-based interventions. Public Health Review, 5134.
Velasco-Mondragon, E., Escamilla-Cejudo, J., Davis, D., & Palladino-Davis, A. (2016). Hispanic health in the USA: a scoping review of the literature. Public Health Reviews, 31.
Wagner, F., Noonan, A., & Velasco-Mondragon, H. E. (2016). Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice. Public Health Reviews.
