Final answer:
Health inequities in the United States are multi-faceted and reflective of systemic issues such as unemployment, obesity, and poverty, particularly within African American communities. Inequities persist due to a combination of racial discrimination, underrepresentation in healthcare professions, and geographical disparities. Addressing these requires a comprehensive approach that includes understanding and targeting social determinants of health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Health inequalities across the United States reflect a troubling reality: higher rates of unemployment, obesity, and poverty disproportionately affect African American communities. Conversely, there are lower rates of home ownership, education, and wealth.
These systemic issues contribute to health disparities where African Americans under the age of 65 have less access to healthcare—11.2% are uninsured, compared to 7.5% of Whites. Moreover, racial discrimination in healthcare negatively impacts their health outcomes.
Though African Americans represent 12% of the U.S. population, they account for less than 6% of physicians and surgeons, suggesting underrepresentation in the medical profession itself. These disparities are not uniform; health outcomes and access to care also vary significantly within cities and across countries, highlighting the complex nature of health inequities.
Furthermore, the rise of obesity in high-income nations contributes to a range of health issues, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, with the United States leading with a 42% obesity rate. Inequities are further exacerbated due to systemic inequalities in economics and housing which affect access to quality healthcare.
Race and gender affect health outcomes differently, with African American women experiencing high rates of emergency room visits and unmet health care needs. The LGBTQ+ youth face challenges receiving quality care due to stigma and lack of sensitivity in healthcare settings. Programs like Healthy People 2020 aim to eradicate these disparities.
The geographical landscape of health can’t be overlooked either—where a person lives significantly influences their health outcomes. Communities in poverty struggle with malnutrition and limited access to healthcare from the outset. Critical medical anthropologists and public health professionals recognize these complex issues and recommend multifaceted, sustainable efforts to address them.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgency of dealing with health disparities, particularly among Black and Latinx communities who have been disproportionately affected. To improve health equity, a comprehensive understanding and addressing of social determinants of health are essential.