Health is one of the most significant elements that influence one’s wellbeing. Regardless, in a country where quality healthcare is mainly dependent on whether individuals can earn enough to pay for healthcare services and lead a healthy lifestyle, it would be right to conclude that one’s wealth is likely to be proportional to the level of healthcare they can access. The real-life instance of my selected social issue is health-related problems among Latinos, as influenced by their social-economic status. The health disparities in Latin America point to the disproportionate level of poverty among these demographics. One of the most significant structural issues in Latin America is inequality. The interrelation between health and wealth can be exemplified by Latino Professionals’ income and their inability to afford various healthcare services. Most of them earn less than their white counterparts; hence, healthcare-related issues in this population. According to the Centre for America Progress, tipped Latina Workers earn approximately 65% less than their white non-Hispanic counterparts who are not tipped. Additionally, an article published by the Economic Policy Institute in 2017 espouses that Latina workers had to work ten months into 2018 to earn the same amount as white non-Hispanic men. Income that could be used to pay for insurance or manage nutritional disorders is therefore limited in this population. In the end, Latino’s poor health outcomes are mainly because of disparities in wealth as influenced by low income among professionals on different levels. The most important question here, however, is whether it is all Latinos who are affected by poverty and hence healthcare access. Latinos’ health crisis as it relates to low income is a real-life situation that contextualizes the assertion that there is a disproportionate association between wealth and health.
From a personal perspective, there is a significant interrelation between health and poverty because poor folks mainly prioritize other basic needs to health. Individual’s ability to afford healthcare services, prescription drugs, or even live a healthy life and in an environment that influences positive health outcomes is drastically reduced among poor communities. An opportunity cost has to be made on basic needs because of the lack of money to satisfy the dynamic needs. Poor individuals are likely to prioritize elements that make life bearable, for example, food and shelter. Without money, one cannot afford expensive health insurance. An individual is likely to be stressed about the situation; hence such individuals are predisposed to physical and psychological disorders. Clay (2001) asserts that “As you move up the socioeconomic status hierarchy, your health prospects continue to improve”. The reason for this point is influenced by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs whereby psychological needs are first satisfied by employees in a particular organization before other less necessary needs such as security and self-actualization are satisfied.
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The different dynamics related to poverty negatively affect individuals’ physical and emotional wellbeing. Lynch et al. (2004) assert that “The relationship between income and health at the individual level involves more than poverty”. The intricacy of the issue is influenced by how wealth affects the different aspects that affect health outcomes. Lack of money negatively affects one’s psychological, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Purnell (n.d.) says that in 2015, the most significant worry among different demographics was money. It is undeniable that constant anxiety and possible depression about managing one’s bills could set in when one lacks money. Psychological instability could influence mental health issues, weaken an individual’s immune system, and increase their susceptibility to different healthcare issues, most of which are comorbid. This is made worse when health conditions that manifest are not well managed because such individuals are unlikely to be in the best position to access quality healthcare.
Social-economic status among the minority influences their health-seeking behavior and hence, poor healthcare outcomes. One of the most pertinent issues put forward by Smith (1999) is “ Are healthier households’ wealthier ones simply because higher incomes lead to better health? Or does poor health restrict a family’s ability to accumulate assets by limiting work or through rising medical expenses?” While there could be discrepancies that limit the explanation of whether healthier households are so because of the wealth that enables them to take care of healthcare dynamics, poor households’ alternatives to healthier lives are undoubtedly limited. Investment in assets is often among the least consideration, given that such families have more pressing needs, for example, food and housing. A wealthy person has the financial muscle to feed themselves, dress, and live in a desirable location. Therefore, they are likely to evade health ills that arise from poor nutrition and lack of sanitation. Among these demographics, multidimensional aspects affect their health; hence, social policies are unlikely to alter the situation. It is worth noting that people from poor backgrounds experience healthcare problems at a young age. Choi et al. (2015) espouse that children who experience toxic stress are likely to have developmental issues during adolescence and early adulthood. Stress caused by lack of food, for example, could be traumatic to a child as they grow up. When development at an early age is impaired, one’s ability to diligently work in the future to ensure they lead a healthy life and afford healthcare is likely to be affected.
Personal core values, particularly diversity and inclusion, have positively influenced my thinking about the various aspects that affect the health of the less wealthy. Little or lack of diversity and inclusion at the workplace has been a major influence on low income among Latinos. Lack of inclusion and discrimination at the workplace has significantly reinforced phenomena such as low pay among Latinos, less employment among these demographics, high levels of poverty, and other social ills such as drug abuse and high levels of unwarranted incarceration. Therefore, the problems related to access to healthcare by Latinos stem from a lack of diversity and inclusion at many workplaces. Since this affects income and health, healthcare needs among these populations remain significantly high. As an individual who embraces diversity and inclusion, this population has influenced my thoughts about the impact poverty has on the health outcomes of the minority, and the vulnerable in society, for example, women and children. The values have reinforced my understanding that the poor are affected by a chain of events that finally lead to poor physical, emotional, and mental health outcomes.
In conclusion, there is a subtle relationship between wealth and health. Latinos’ health crisis as it relates to low income is a real-life situation that contextualizes the assertion that there is a disproportionate association between wealth and health. Health and wealth are correlated in that growth in wealth is associated with improved health outcomes. Latinos exemplify a community with disproportionately negative health care outcomes, mainly because of low income. The social-economic status of many influences them to take care of the most pressing needs, which in most cases do not include healthcare needs. Health is not only affected by the ability to afford medication but also anxiety about where to get money. Given how multidimensional the social problem is, personal core values, such as embracing diversity and inclusion, have influenced my view on the vulnerable population’s healthcare needs, such as the minority. Regardless of how intricate the issue is, all stakeholders need collaboration to ensure the diverse elements that directly or indirectly influence wealth levels, and hence individuals’ health are appropriately taken care of.
References
Choi, L., Erickson, D., Griffin, K., Levere, A. & Seidman, E. (2015). What it’s Worth: Strengthening the financial future of families, communities and the nation. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and CFED.
Clay, R. A. (2001). Wealth secures health. American Psychological Association. 32(9): 78.
Lynch, J., Smith, G. D., Harper, S., Hillemeier, M., Ross, N., Kaplan, G. A., & Wolfson, M. (2004). Is income inequality a determinant of population health? Part 1. A systematic review. The Milbank Quarterly , 82 (1), 5–99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0887-378x.2004.00302.x
Purnell, J. Q. (n.d.). Financial health is public health. What it’s Worth. http://www.strongfinancialfuture.org/essays/financial-health-is-public-health/
Smith J. P. (1999). Healthy bodies and thick wallets: the dual relation between health and economic status. The Journal of Economic Perspectives: a journal of the American Economic Association , 13 (2), 144–166.
