Personal perspective on disparities and determinants of health

doi:10.15406/mojph.2016.04.00065

MOJ

eISSN: 2379-6383

Public Health

Opinion Volume 4 Issue 1

Personal perspective on disparities and determinants of health

Tanicka Shelton

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Department of Health Services, Walden University, USA

Correspondence: Tanicka Shelton, Walden University, Department of Health Services, USA

Received: December 30, 2014 | Published: January 18, 2016

Citation: Shelton T. Personal perspective on disparities and determinants of health. MOJ Public Health. 2016;4(1):9. DOI: 10.15406/mojph.2016.04.00065

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Opinion

In this essay I will discuss my personal perspective on the disparities and determinants of health. I will explain what health equity mean to me. From a health care professional perspective I will discuss what the impact of health equity is. I will discuss what racial, ethnic, or geographical population I base this application on. I will also discuss the types of issues related to health equity are reported from the population selected and finally I will discuss how my definition of health equity and diversity related to Walden’s mission of social justice. Health equity to me is regardless of ethnicity or socio-economic status everyone can have equal opportunity to maintain health by having access to adequate health resources. As a health care professional the impact of health equity would mean that health disparities among racial, ethnic and socio economic community would not be a factor. Policies and social disparities would no longer be an issue. Blacks living in urban communities most who are in poverty with a minimum of a high school education with no access to transportation is how I based this application on. Blacks are three times more likely to live in poverty than whites because of income, access to health care and insurance coverage.¹ The types of issues related to health equity would be Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, access to care and education. 11.3% of blacks are more likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes than that compared to 7% of whites. Blacks who make up to 12% of the United States population accounts for half the HIV/AIDS cases and blacks are 9 times more likely to die from AIDs complication than whites. Blacks were more likely to visit emergency rooms at least one time in a year than whites and blacks are more likely to drop out of high school than whites. My definition of health equity and diversity relates to Walden University mission of social justice because both want to improve human and social conditions for all. This can be achieved by creating and applying ideas to promote the development of individuals and communities as a whole.²

Conclusion

In conclusion I have discussed my personal perspective on health disparities, I have explained what health equity means to me and I have discussed the impact of health equity from a health care professional. I also discussed which racial and geographical population I based my information on and discussed the types of issues related to that population. Lastly I discussed how my definition of health equity can be intertwined with Walden University’s mission of social justice. I have learned that it will take some time to close the gap with health disparities that others are facing and with society. With continued efforts it and education it can be done.