Health promotion in Hispanic population (Essay Sample)

Health Promotion in Hispanic Population
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Date Health Promotion in Hispanic Population
It is a sincere wish for every citizen to access quality and affordable health care. Irrespective of one’s community, people do all that they can within their means to remain healthy all through. However, some barriers come about in the process of health provision that often brings disparities in a way that a particular population becomes a victim. For instance, the economic strength significantly varies across people and the situation is similar regarding factors such as education, exposure levels, family size and structure as well as races. All these elements among others have a role to play in health access which is also an issue as far as the Hispanic population is concerned.
Health Status of the Hispanics
Statistically, there are about 52 million Hispanics or Latinos among the people in the United States which translate to approximately 17% of the entire population. However, the number is expected to grow since there is a gradual increase in the minority and ethnic populations in the country and reach 30% by 2050 (CDC, 2013). Although they are yet to advance a level where they access facilities in a similar capacity as the majority whites, the Hispanics are progressing well in all variations in life.
Regarding their health situations, three dominant elements characterize the health of Hispanics. The first case has to do with substance abuse and particularly among the young populations. For instance, which is a major worry there is an illicit use of substances in individuals as young as 12 years which also makes about 9% of the overall cases (Eldredge et al., 2016). Even if the national average in consumption about that age is about 10%, it is evident that the Hispanics do not practice a safe lifestyle when it comes to illicit drug use among the children.
On the same case, Hispanics are also high consumers of alcohol with individuals between 12 and 17 years going into the record with a consumption rate of about 24% (Eldredge et al., 2016). Indeed, this is a worsening situation which if not observed keenly can also cause many dropouts and increased cases of juvenile delinquents. Another critical observation about their health involves mental disorders. The people with such situations but regarding adults (18 years and above) comprise 15.6% of their people. Besides and as (CDC, 2013) describes, the noted fraction to experience severe mental illness makes about 4% as 2015 health records provide, and that is a manifest that a significant number cannot contribute in any meaningful way towards economic growth.
Far from substance abuse and mental illness, another health concern about their statuses involves diabetic conditions. In America, the overall diabetic cases comprise 8% of the population, but 12.2% of the Hispanics are diabetic (CDC, 2013). Regarding that, it is evident that there are issues about health and eating habits with the situation worsening in males who make 15.4% of the cases as compared to the females who are about 9% (Page-Reeves et al., 2013). Moreover, besides gender consideration, Hispanic children who are also diabetic or obese show a higher rate than the national average statistics (De Heer, Koehly, Pederson, Morera, 2011).
Health Promotion in Hispanics
Regarding Hispanic population, health promotion would only get a meaningful definition if noted as the dissemination of materials which are educative in nature with an aim to promote the accessibility to preventive health care. The main reason is that most of the diseases and health conditions dominant in the population have all to do with lack of adequate health knowledge. For instance, diabetes, obesity and substance use among the young population is a case to do with lack of information. If there is more sensitization about the issue, the figures can change, and the health situation can also improve significantly.
Health Disparities
Evidently, Hispanic trend differently compared to the majority whites and even compared to other minority population such as the African Americans they are worse regarding health. Several disparities influence these conditions although the main barriers involve economic status, language difference, and education level. In the first case, the Hispanics are the second in poverty rate among any other group, a condition that prompts many to overlook health concerns to cater for their basic needs (Page-Reeves et al., 2013). Moreover, poverty levels a