Health Promotion among Diverse Populations
Family Centered Health Promotion Health Promotion among Diverse Populations
The author will focus this paper on health promotion among the Hispanic and Latino population. This population was chosen being that his group is the most rapidly growing culturally diverse group of people in the United States. A Hispanic or Latino is defined as “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto-Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. (Hispanic or Latino Populations, 2015)
According to the 2010 census, the Hispanic/Latino population grew by 43 percent, the same census listed that 16 percent of the total United States population were Hispanics or Latinos. (Hispanic or Latino Populations, 2015) Heath Status compared to the National Average People from the Hispanic/Latino culture tend to have a higher prevalence of chronic conditions as compared to non-Hispanic Americans. The chronic conditions emphasized included diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Other conditions included activity limitations and biological risk factors caused by chronic conditions, such as obesity and increased lipid levels. (Tienda & Mitchell, 2006, p. 365). The prevalence of diabetes in Hispanic/Latino was 13.8 percent compared to 7.3 percent for non-Hispanic white people. The mortality rates related to complications caused by diabetes in Hispanics was 10 points higher than that of non-Hispanic white people. (Tienda & Mitchell, 2006, p. 369). The prevalence of hypertension among Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic white were similar with an average of 25% compared to the general population, although several studies have indicated that the Hispanic/Latino population have higher rates of poor medical management of hypertension than that of the non-Hispanic white population. (Tienda & Mitchell, 2006, p. 369). Cardiovascular disease and cancer are both the leading cause of death of all ethnic groups in the United States. The data and research to compare the prevalence of cardiovascular disease between Hispanic/Latinos and the non-Hispanic white people was inconclusive, although studies have shown a higher stroke related mortality among Hispanics/Latino’s than that of the non-Hispanic white population. (Tienda & Mitchell, 2006, p. 371) Health disparities and barriers The Center for Disease Control Health Disparities and Equalities Report-United States 2013, showed that the health disparities among the Hispanic/Latino population include obesity among female was higher than that of the white female population. Diabetes, periodontitis, HIV infection, teenage birth. Smaller percent had control of their blood pressure in comparison to the non-Hispanic white adult population. Barriers that have an impact on the healthcare of the Hispanic/Latino population include cultural, socio-economic and education. Social and economic factors have a high impact on better health outcomes, although despite Hispanic/Latinos being less educated, higher poverty rates and least access to healthcare the outcomes were equal to or better than that of the non-Hispanic white population. (Morales, Kingston, Valdez, & Escarce, 2002). Health Promotion Hispanic/Latinos defined health promotion as the relationship of activities in a good way to maintain health, with those activities including, twice monthly doctor visits, good sleep hygiene, eating, exercising, not smoking, and taking prescribed medications. (Collins, Decker, & Esquibel, 2006). To begin to promote healthcare to the Hispanic/Latino community, a healthcare provider must have insights to the culture. The traditional patriarch family structure will have the father or oldest male family member with the greatest power and the decision maker. Most women would be in submission of this structure. The culture is collectivistic basis, in which group activities are
