Diabetes Three Main Topic 2 Dq 1

Please write a
paragraph with your opinion based on the text bellow. Please include citations
and references in case you need to used for the question.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that has been a problem in this
country for quite sometime. Mainly because the course of the disease changes
with each passing day. Although it affects individuals of many types of
economic and cultural backgrounds; it tends to be more prevalent in the
Hispanic population (American Diabetes Association, 2014). In the Article,
“Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health
Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes”, three main dimensions of
fear were identified: cost, language discrimination and immigration status, and
cultural disconnect (Page-Reeves et al., 2013, p.36). From a health providers
perspective, the understanding is that prevention and treatment is important.
From the perspective of the consumer, other priorities are to be considered.
This article identified that the immigrants involved had more important
obligations such as paying basic utilities, food, shelter and their own
children’s healthcare over theirs. Adding their own healthcare needs adds to
the financial stress of these already low income families. “People
are afraid to go to the doctor…they can’t afford the bills, can’t make the
payment…they are scared, afraid and people are afraid of debt”
(Page-Reeves et al., 2013, p. 36). These individuals essentially figure that
the effects are long term anyway, so they put it off and in the long run end up
with more costly consequences. Then there is the language discrimination and
immigration status issue where in healthcare institutions were found to have employees
that were making the immigrants feel guilty or less because of their illegal
status or lack of english speaking skills. This included issues with lack of
interpretation services or just having mediocre translation services overall.
This made immigrants feel as though citizens were more deserving of healthcare
services than them. Due to these dynamics, immigrants can feel a sense of
intimidation and fear in institutional health contexts that can lead them to
adopt strategies downplaying their real health-related needs and concerns in an
attempt to make themselves seem more “deserving” of assistance (Page-Reeves et
al., 2013, p. 38). This also caused the ripple effect of cultural disconnect;
where immigrants felt disconnected from staff members and other patients. This
in turn caused a gap in communication and participants did not feel comfortable
enough confiding their healthcare needs in fear that their customs would not be
understood or undermined.

I do agree that structural violence does create health
disparities. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to change soon. Society as a whole
would have to truly change the way they treat the diverse populations that
exist in this country. As it is, this country struggles with providing
healthcare to their own citizens. Providing healthcare to its incoming
immigrants will be a struggle as well. This is where all healthcare
professionals and government officials should unite and work together
extensively to address these health disparities until we no longer inadvertently
cause harm to our population.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2014). Prevalence of Diabetes
Among Hispanics/Latinos From Diverse Backgrounds: The Hispanic Community
Healthstudy. Retrieved on June 18, 2018 from http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/8/2233

Page-Reeves, J., Niforatos, J., Mishra, S., Regino, L.,
Gingrich, A., & Bulten, J. (2013). Health Disparity and Structural
Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for
Diabetes. Journal
Of Health Disparities Research & Practice, 6 (2), 30-47.