Question

The following is a list of health inequalities in the US. Choose one and discuss (1) whether you believe this is a health inequity and why and (2) factors that may contribute to this inequality.

1. Compared with white youth, black and Hispanic youth have a high prevalence of asthma, overweight and Type 2 diabetes.
2. Rates of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy are higher among black and Hispanic youth than among whites of the same age.
3. A baby born to an African-American mother has more than twice the risk of dying during the first year of life than a white American baby.
4. Hispanic youth experience proportionately more anxiety-related behaviors and depression than do non-Hispanic white youth.
5. Suicide rates among American Indians/ Alaska natives aged 15-35 years are more than two times higher than the national average for that age group.
6. LGBT youth are more likely to be overweight than non-LGBT youth.
7. 35 percent of LGBT youth have reported suicide attempts compared to 10 percent of non-LGBT youth.

Answer 1

Compared with white youth, black and Hispanic youth have a high prevalence of asthma, overweight and Type-2 diabetes.

1.

Yes, this is a health inequity. Health inequities are systematic differences in the health status in different population groups. Non-communicable diseases like Type-2 diabetes is one such health inequity, which is found in high prevalence among black and Hispanic youths as compared to white youths.

2.

The factors that may contribute to these inequalities are:

a. Age, sex and hereditary factors

b. Individual lifestyle factors: low income, poor sanitation, education, attitude, personal beliefs, and poor learning.

c. Social and community networks: Discrimination, poor access to community health services, stigma, low income, social isolation, poor access to education.

d. Living and working conditions like work environment, education, agriculture, and food production, unemployment, water and sanitation, health care services and housing.

e. General, socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions: Geographic location, personal and cultural beliefs, and traditions, government, economic and social policies, poor access to health services.