Latino American Youth Health Disparities Research

In the US, health disparities are well-recognized problem especially among ethnic minorities like the Hispanics, Asian Americans, and African Americans. Researchers have shown that minority populations are exposed to a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses coupled with poorer health outcomes and increased death rates, when matched with the white population. For Hispanics, the problem of health disparities could be because of inconsistencies in the living standards, unemployment, and unfairness in terms of how they are perceived by their peers, in this case the whites. 1 To be specific, the pragmatic and persistent achievement gap when it comes to education has been identified to be a contributory factor to health disparity. For society, health disparities result to less optimal productivity level, increased healthcare costs and income inequalities.

Due to this, low-income communities’ residence has a lower tax base and hence the finding of schools is low. Meaning socioeconomic status determines the funds the schools receive i. e. for the area surrounding the schools is the key fund provider for the schools. Following the statement of Duncan Andrade and Morel (2008), “{we are not a nation of opportunity for all, but a nation built upon grand narratives of opportunity for all. As stated by Kirsch, Jenkins, Karlstad and Jungeblut (1993). Of the adult population, 12 per cent only have the needed health education or health literacy as confirmed by the National Assessment of Adult Literacy. In every ten individuals, only one has needed skills for management of own health as well as in the prevention of illness.

Thirty million individuals, which make 14percent of the adult population, have less than the basic level when it comes to health literacy. Leading to a higher likelihood of poor health, which makes 42 per cent, a likelihood of not having health insurance, which makes 28 per cent, compared to health literacy proficient adults. Disparities relating to primary therapy, screening rates, adjuvant therapies and follow-ups after treatment occur disproportionally for this group, hence leading to poor healthcare outcomes. Figure 1 shows U. S. Hispanic Population Growth Needs Assessment In the US, Hispanic students depict far dissimilar educational outcomes compared to their white peers5. In addition, they face biased opportunities, which further contribute to enduring conclusions. This calls for the need to address the problem of health disparity that is facing the largest minority groups in the country.

In conclusion, from my perspective working in the Charles County Public School system I’ve personally witness accumulated disadvantages for Hispanics. Many Hispanics begin formalized schools without the economic and social resources that other students receive. I have experienced first-hand knowledge working in a school that lack resources to equip students with the necessary tools to learn. For Hispanics it would appear that initial disadvantages often stem from parents’ immigrant and socioeconomic status and their lack of knowledge about U. , David M. Cutler, J. E. Jonathan, SandroGalea, Maria Glymour, Howard K. Koh, and David Satcher. "Language spoken and differences in health status, access to care, and receipt of preventive services among US Hispanics. " American journal of public health 98, no. Fiscella, Kevin, and Harriet Kitzman.