Eliminating health disparities: understanding this important phenomenon.
Since the formation of the United States in early times, diversity has always been a reality. With the immigration of diverse whites from Europe, the importation of black slaves from Africa, and the presence of the preexisting Native American populations, diversity has long been a fact of life in this country. However, one of the long-standing priorities of the United States has been "good health" for all the people. The broad diversity of the population has presented a tremendous challenge to health care. This article addresses this important topic by looking at the concept of health disparity from a biopsychosocial perspective and further by describing disparities that are present in the United States among the 2 major ethnic minority groups, African Americans and Mexican Americans. Many other health disparities could be considered in other groups, but space limits of article allow only the 2 major ethnic minority groups to be addressed.
Newman Giger
Joyce
J
School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Davidhizar
Ruth
R
D005006:Ethnicity; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology