Health Promotion in the Black/African American Population
Select an ethnic minority group that is represented in the United States (American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander). Using health information available from Healthy People, the CDC, and other relevant government websites, analyze the health status for this group.
In a paper of 1,000-1,250 words, compare and contrast the health status of your selected minority group to the national average. Include the following:
Describe the ethnic minority group selected. Describe the current health status of this group. How do race and ethnicity influence health for this group?
What are the health disparities that exist for this group? What are the nutritional challenges for this group?
Discuss the barriers to health for this group resulting from culture, socioeconomics, education, and sociopolitical factors.
What health promotion activities are often practiced by this group?
Describe at least one approach using the three levels of health promotion prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) that is likely to be the most effective in a care plan given the unique needs of the minority group you have selected. Provide an explanation of why it might be the most effective choice.
What cultural beliefs or practices must be considered when creating a care plan? What cultural theory or model would be best to support culturally competent health promotion for this population? Why?
Cite at least three peer-reviewed or scholarly sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and public health content.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
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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 a lack of guidance and familiarity with the different services and procedures that are appropriate for each patient’s case. The complexity of the health system may also pose a negative effect, influencing the willingness of African American patients to undergo medical services and comply with prescribed treatment procedures (Muyuka et al., 2020).
Cultural factors highly affect how the African American population view healthcare. The presence of racism and discrimination due to a long history of oppression has been part of the system when African Americans interact with White people. Racism highly affects the health outcomes of the population and even alters how they view the healthcare system, especially when negative experiences happen often during medical visits or attempts to engage with the healthcare system (Shepherd et al., 2018). In addition to this, there is a level of skepticism when the African Americans deal with procedures due to differences in cultural beliefs or practices such as vaccines and dealing with other medical conditions.
Health Promotion Activities
A common health promotion activity that the African American population engages in is participation in the Black church with its highly influential high priests/pastors. The African Americans believe that the human body is “God’s ...