Research and classification of the minority groups in the USA found Hispanics to be the largest minority group. It consists of Americans of native, foreign-born immigrants of Spain, Caribbean or Portugal descent from Latin America. Latinos health status continues to deteriorate each year affected by different factors which decrease birth rates and life expectancy. Research on the Hispanic health status has revealed the need for formulation of health policies and implementation to reduce mortality and morbidity affecting the group (Liao et al., 2016). Hispanics as a minority group is comprised of various subgroups and faces disparities in health compared to the average national groups (Zambrana, 2011). An analysis of Hispanic health status is necessary to evaluate the determinants and contributors to their current health status including the social-political, environmental, and biological factors which hinder their valuable contribution to the economic, cultural diversity, and productivity in the US.
On national average Hispanic health status is negatively affected by social determinants of health due to poor conditions of health as shaped by their structural and social position. Cultural values, income, education, occupations, social support systems and access to health services comprise of the factors which hinder health access among the Hispanics. Studies have identified cancer and heart disease as the leading causes of mortality among the Hispanics in the US. Other reasons include unintentional injuries, diabetes, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and mental illnesses. The primary health symptoms displayed Hispanics are back pains muscle tension, anxiety headaches, and sleeping disorders.
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Hispanic encounter barriers to health in access, diagnosis, and treatment. Latinos face health inequalities due to their socioeconomic status restrictive cultural background, employment and their immigration status where some Hispanics in the US are undocumented which limits their access to health. The Hispanic subgroups have unique cultural values which hinder their access to health care such as beliefs in traditional medicine which is mostly ineffective to their sicknesses. Hispanics cultural diversity and practices also affect their economic and political status which directly correlates to health. Race and ethnicity influence Hispanics through experiences in the workplace and social groups.
The treatment accorded to Hispanics is dependent on behaviors and abilities which is discriminatory as most are less fluent in English, low economic status related to illiteracy and lack of proper education; a significant percentage of the group has no high school education compared to the non-Hispanic whites. Hispanics are vulnerable to diseases and untimely death due to decreased health care access and the existence of high-risk factors to non-communicable diseases (Liao et al., 2016). The primary health risks among the Hispanic include smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The risk factors are further increased by behavioral risks factors such as poor dietary habits, stress, substance abuse and other sedentary behaviors.
The current health status of the Hispanic group is weak compared to other non-Hispanics whites. The evaluation and assessment based on the US provision of health care and insurance services. Mainly people rely on employer-based health insurance Medicare and Medicaid which is privately purchased (Liao et al., 2016).Due to their poor economic status the Hispanic population has been unable to benefit from the health insurance programs and have only recently benefited from the Patient Protection, and Affordable Care Act signed into law in 2010 by President Obama. The program decreases health care costs and improved quality of care among Hispanics who have historically been associated with minor access to health care services and utilization of preventive care services compared to the other groups (Tienda et al., 2006).
In the Hispanic group, the primary, secondary, and tertiary health promotion approaches, affects the evaluation of health services. The approaches focus on indicators such as access, cost and expenditures, utilization, quality, and performance (Tienda et al., 2006). Among the Hispanics health services are mainly influenced by health literacy and cultural proficiency. The most suitable and effective approach using the three levels of health promotion prevention given the unique needs of the Hispanic population are the primary health promotion and prevention services. Due to the high rates of uninsured Hispanics primary methods would effectively increase health literacy by providing knowledge and skills especially among women in the community to enable them take better care of their children and families (Liao et al., 2016).
Primary health promotion services will increase access to health care services to include health screenings and follow up on medical conditions for diseases and illnesses. Hispanics also need primary care in health due to their general approach to health care attributed to various factors such as cost concerns and insurance. Hispanics have less screening for cancers where women were found to have less access to breast and cervical cancer screenings (Tienda et al., 2006). Hispanics are cultural dependent on disease occurrence where they receive care through emergency as opposed to self-referrals and outpatient services. There are few Hispanic health professional compared to their vast populations. Most Hispanics are migrant workers exposed to high risks jobs and prone to injuries and lacking in health insurance (Liao et al., 2016).
There is need to adopt a health in all policies approach to cater for the health care services for the growing Hispanic population. Initiatives such as Healthy People 2020 should focus on improving Hispanic health programs in health promotion and disease prevention. New approaches should be implemented to focus on improving the diet decision to healthier choices, offer preventive measures to environmental exposures for increased physical activity through exercise and recreation and establish systems which offer the Hispanic group access to primary and preventive health care (Liao et al., 2016). To improve their health status policies formulated should address the Hispanic the health inequalities by transforming economic stability, education, employment and incomes. National state and local resources should be utilized in provision of interventions to improve the social cultural economic and political health of Hispanics.
References
Liao, Y., Siegel, P. Z., White, S., Dulin, R., & Taylor, A. (2016). Improving actions to control high blood pressure in Hispanic communities-Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health across the US Project, 2009–2012. Preventive medicine , 83, 11-15.
Tienda, M., Mitchell, F., National Research Council (U.S.), & National Research Council (U.S.). (2006). Hispanics and the future of America . Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.
Zambrana, R. E. (2011). Latinos in American society: Families and communities in transition. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.
