Social Justice and Healthcare

Social Justice and Healthcare Student's Name Institution Course Code and Course Name Professor’s Name Submission Date Social justice in healthcare means equal opportunities in healthcare services, irrespective of one's background, race, or culture (Habibzadeh et al., 2021). Racial and cultural disparities in health remain some of the hot-button topics in the modern healthcare environment. More often than not, this is because of systemic inequalities in the access to and quality of healthcare, as well as insensitive cultural practices, which continue to be a causative element in undesirable health outcomes among the underprivileged. This paper explores how social justice in healthcare aims to address inequalities in health access and outcomes, particularly for marginalized racial and cultural groups. It focuses on the impact of psychological and sociocultural factors, healthcare system disparities, cultural influences on health, as well as the importance of diversity and culturally competent care in improving health equity. The Importance of Social Justice in Healthcare Health equity results from social justice and assures equal opportunities for all to attain their highest levels of health. Social justice addresses significant social inequalities in the root causes of health disparities: race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and geography (Habibzadeh et al., 2021). Such inequalities in health create inequities in access to healthcare resources, preventive services, and treatment options. This is indicated by more excellent comparative prevalence rates of chronic diseases, lower life expectancy, and higher infant mortality rates registered among racial and ethnic subpopulations (Habibzadeh et al., 2021). Psychological and Sociocultural Influences on Physical Health and Disease Sociocultural and psychological factors are decisive in establishing an individual's health behavior and disease prevention and treatment attitude. Thus, psychological stressors that, too often, arise from social and economic disparities may cause physical health problems like hypertension, cardiovascular problems, and reduced immune response. Differences in Healthcare and Medical Delivery Systems While large metropolitan urban settings might enjoy the latest in advanced medical technologies, specialized care, and higher concentrations of healthcare professionals, there is usually fragmentation in the systems that may also be inaccessible to lower-income communities. Healthcare systems may differ between large metropolitan areas and rural areas, and with these differences, disparities in health access and outcomes arise (Cyr et al., 2019). This fragmented system leads to inconsistent care and delayed treatment of chronic conditions. However, healthcare systems in rural settings often fail to deliver an adequate supply of healthcare providers, facilities, and specialized care. Such disparities in available healthcare services can impact the health of some cultural groups more seriously than others. One health outcome that varies significantly across cultures is obesity. Rates of obesity in many developed countries, such as the United States, are substantially higher among African American and Hispanic populations compared to White populations (Lofton et al., 2023). In part, this problem continues to...