Health disparities are the differences that exist in the health and healthcare systems between different racial groups and societies. It mainly revolves around the high burden of illnesses, mortality, and injury. Health disparity has been witnessed amongst different races, with some having better health and healthcare system while others are having a high burden of illness. According to Grainger, one of the key causes of health disparities is the environmental exposures. Most Negroes and the blacks lived in the islands during the slavery days, and this exposed them to the risk of contracting many diseases. As slaves working in the plantations under hard conditions, the blacks and Negroes were exposed to an environment that risked their health outcome. As a result, many could get ill out of various diseases.
Lack of access to medical care is also mentioned as one of the causes of health amongst different races. During the slavery in the United States, most of the plantations were far away from the medical facilities, and whenever the blacks and Negroes could fall sick, they could not access the medical facilities. The owners of the plantations were not concerned about the health of the slaves but only on the profits. With proper care and attention, the lives of many people can be saved, and health disparity amongst different races be eliminated. “The plantations beings often far away from the medical assistance, proper care and attention could be useful in saving many valuable lives.”
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Unlike the whites, the food and clothing of the Negroes and confining the sick into houses could lead to spread of diseases. This exposes them to carcinogens which then risk the spread of diseases. At the same time, the slaves work in an environment that is not safe for the health, and while their economic status is low, they cannot afford to get quality medical care. This leads to low health outcome and thus health disparity. While the whites received quality care, which was also accessible, certain groups such as Negroes and blacks could not receive any leading to disparity in the health outcome amongst different races.
Lind, on the other hand, associates the cause of health disparity to the environmental and climatic condition of an area. For example, during rainy seasons in tropical countries such as Guinea, the water pour contain a substance that is harmful to the health of human beings. This then leads to the spread of the disease amongst the communities during rainy seasons. Furthermore, the existence of the hurricane storms and tornadoes play a vital role in the health outcome of the communities. Some regions and climatic conditions offer a conducive environment that favors the growth breeding of worms causing diseases and this can affect the whole community leading to health disparity. Certain diseases such as fever are prevalent in tropical areas during dry seasons thus affecting the health of the communities around.
While these tropical regions experience health disparity due to either rain or dry season, such regions, especially West African countries such as Senegal, lack quality access to medical care and treatment. The accessibility and the quality of the care plays a crucial role in determining the health outcome of the population. While certain developed countries such as the United States have achieved a universal health care program where quality care is essential for all, most developing countries still lack quality care for their citizens. This leads to low health outcome, which then creates a health disparity. Some diseases such as leprosy were most dreadful among the Negroes, and while the cure for the disease was not discovered, lives were lost.
