Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations (CDC, 2015). They add that it is inequitable and are directly related to the historical and current unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources. Given the definition we can make multiple inferences as to what can be considered as factors that cause health disparity. In the United States the major key to disparity in my opinion would be money or better yet lack of money or poverty. The ongoing issue of unemployment, the slowly disappearing middle class and the current economic instability eventually takes a toll on society. Healthcare is not immune to these problems. Poverty is the indicator for social disadvantage. Finances often define what type of care you can afford, without …show more content…
Despite significant advances in civil rights, race remains a significant factor in determining whether an individual receives care, whether an individual receives high quality care, and in determining health outcomes (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2008). In the article they noted awareness as one of the issues causing such racial prejudices. Sadly, the KFF mentions that minorities like African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are greatly affected by these disparities. Health care professionals and the public are often times indifferent when it comes to health concerns of races other than their own, and these minorities are underrepresented in the health care workforce further accentuating the problem. Physicians themselves at times unknowingly place bias on the care they provide. This issue can also be linked to the socio-economic imbalance currently plaguing the United States. Further reforms and programs that promote equality and awareness needs to be put in place to alleviate this