Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations 
Health Promotions Among Diverse Populations
Michelle A. Moss
Grand Canyon University: Family-Centered Health Promotion
May 5, 2015
“The United States has become increasingly diverse in the last century. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, approximately 36 percent of the population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority group” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). This increase of racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S., as well as the challenge to eliminate disparities in the health status of people of diverse backgrounds, demands that we provide culturally appropriate health education and health promotion to everyone (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014, p.221).
Reducing the health disparities in this country needs to come from a national level, but this does not mean that nurses can’t play a vital role in helping reduce them. As of 2013, there are approximately 54 million Hispanics living in the U.S., which makes up nearly 17% of the U.S population, making Hispanics the largest ethnic minority group (CDC, 2015). This particular minority group is perhaps more exposed to health disparities in this country than any other ethnic group. The health of any population is largely influenced by its social and economic factors, and the health care services it receives.
When examining the health status and health disparities of the Hispanic population, there are a multitude of barriers that prevent them from obtaining quality care. One of the major barriers that affects their health status is language. Approximately 33% of Hispanics state that they are not fluent in English (U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, 2014). Limited proficiency in English affects Hispanics ' ability to seek and obtain health care and reduces access to health information in the media. Other major factors include lack of access to preventive care and lack of health insurance. “It is significant to note that Hispanics have the highest
Michelle A. Moss
Grand Canyon University: Family-Centered Health Promotion
May 5, 2015
“The United States has become increasingly diverse in the last century. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, approximately 36 percent of the population belongs to a racial or ethnic minority group” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). This increase of racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S., as well as the challenge to eliminate disparities in the health status of people of diverse backgrounds, demands that we provide culturally appropriate health education and health promotion to everyone (Edelman, Kudzma, & Mandle, 2014, p.221).
Reducing the health disparities in this country needs to come from a national level, but this does not mean that nurses can’t play a vital role in helping reduce them. As of 2013, there are approximately 54 million Hispanics living in the U.S., which makes up nearly 17% of the U.S population, making Hispanics the largest ethnic minority group (CDC, 2015). This particular minority group is perhaps more exposed to health disparities in this country than any other ethnic group. The health of any population is largely influenced by its social and economic factors, and the health care services it receives.
When examining the health status and health disparities of the Hispanic population, there are a multitude of barriers that prevent them from obtaining quality care. One of the major barriers that affects their health status is language. Approximately 33% of Hispanics state that they are not fluent in English (U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, 2014). Limited proficiency in English affects Hispanics ' ability to seek and obtain health care and reduces access to health information in the media. Other major factors include lack of access to preventive care and lack of health insurance. “It is significant to note that Hispanics have the highest
References: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). Minority Health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/index.html Edelman, Carole, Elizabeth Kudzma, Carol Mandle. Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span, 8th Edition. Mosby, 2014. VitalBook file. U.S Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (2014) Profile: Hispanic/Latino Americans Retrieved from http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=64 Escarce, J. J., & Kapur, K. (2006). Access to and Quality of Health Care - Hispanics and the Future of America - NCBI Bookshelf. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19910/