Introduction
Health promotion is the process of enabling individuals to increase control over and improve their health. It is a positive concept stressing the prevention of disease and the enhancement of health. There are many different approaches to health promotion, but they all share the same goal: to improve the health of individuals and communities. One of the most important aspects of health promotion is addressing the needs of minority groups. Minority populations are often underserved by the healthcare system and have higher rates of chronic disease. In America, there are several minority populations, such as Hispanics/Latinos, which is a significant focus group when addressing different health disparities faced by the diverse ethnic populace in the country.
Identification and Description of the Hispanic/Latino Ethnic Group
The Hispanic/Latino ethnic group is the largest minority group in the United States. As of July 1, 2019, there were an estimated 60.6 million Hispanics/Latinos in the United States, making up 18.2% of the total population (Office of Minority Health, n.d.). The health status of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States is generally poorer than the health status of the overall population. Several reasons lead to the poor health status of the group. One reason is that they are more likely to live in poverty than non-Hispanic whites, which is associated with poor health (Office of Minority Health, n.d.). Another reason is that Hispanics/Latinos are more probably to be uninsured than non-Hispanic whites hence, rarely have access to preventive care and treatment for chronic conditions.
Furthermore, race and ethnicity play a role in the poor health status of Hispanics/Latinos. The minority group is likelier to be of lower socioeconomic status than non-Hispanic whites. They are also more likely to be immigrants and, therefore, may rarely have access to health care. In addition, Hispanics/Latinos experience increased rates of health disparities compared to other groups (Concha et al., 2021). For example, Hispanics/Latinos are of Mexican descent, and Mexican Americans have more risks of diabetes, obesity, and certain types of cancer than non-Hispanic whites. Therefore, their originality is one of the key factors to their poor health status compared to the non-Latino population.
Health Disparities and Nutritional Challenges of the Hispanic/Latino Ethnic Group
Based on the information gathered from the CDC and other relevant government websites, it is evident that many health disparities exist for the Hispanic/Latino ethnic group in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). When comparing the health status of this group to the national average, it is clear that there are many areas in which this group falls behind. For example, Hispanics/Latinos have an increased degree of obesity than the national average and are also more probable to develop diabetes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). In addition, this group has a high cancer rate and risk of dying from heart disease. Additionally, many nutritional challenges exist for the Hispanic/Latino ethnic population as well. For example, this group is more likely to consume foods high in calories and fat and eat fast food. In addition, Hispanic/Latinos will rarely consume more fruits and vegetables than the national average, and they are also less likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
Barriers to Health of the Hispanic/Latino Ethnic Group
Cultural barriers to health for Hispanics/Latinos include language differences, making it difficult to access healthcare services and understand medical information. In addition, many Hispanics/Latinos are immigrants who may not be familiar with the U.S. healthcare system or may be afraid to use it for fear of being deported (Jaceldo-Siegl et al., 2019). Socioeconomic barriers to health for Hispanics/Latinos include poverty and lack of access to healthcare, which is linked to poor health. In addition, the group is less likely to have health insurance, which means they rarely have access to quality healthcare (Jaceldo-Siegl et al., 2019). Besides, educational barriers to health for Hispanics/Latinos include a lack of health education. Many do not receive adequate health education, leading to poor health habits and a lack of knowledge about preventing and treating health problems (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Moreover, sociopolitical barriers to health for Hispanics include discrimination and unequal treatment in the healthcare system. They often face discrimination when accessing healthcare services and may receive poorer quality healthcare than the general population.
Health Promotion Activities Practiced by the Hispanic/Latino Ethnic Group
Hispanics/Latinos in the United States practice some health promotion strategies. For example, they have programs that provide free or low-cost health screenings. Several educational campaigns promote healthy eating and physical activity among Hispanic/Latinos (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Furthermore, several health promotion initiatives are aimed at minority groups in America. One example is the Healthy People 2020 initiative, which has set targets to enhance the health of all Americans, including those from minority groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). The initiatives are helping to improve the health of minority groups such as Hispanic/Latinos in America and to close the health disparities between them and the wider population.
Three Levels of Health Promotion Prevention
Based on the levels of health promotion, one approach likely to improve the health of the Hispanic/Latino group is community-based participatory research (CBPR). CBPR involves community members in all aspects of the research procedure, from planning and design to data collection and analysis (Avilés-Santa et al., 2020). CBPR is based on the belief that those most affected by a problem are also the best experts on finding solutions to that problem. This approach is effective because it ensures that the research is relevant to the community and that community members have a say in how it is conducted. Furthermore, CBPR projects are typically long-term and involve multiple stakeholders (Avilés-Santa et al., 2020). This allows for sustainable change to occur, as community members are actively involved in designing, implementing, and evaluating the care plan. Therefore, CBPR can be the most effective care plan approach for the Hispanic/Latino ethnic group as it is designed to build the capacity of the community to address its own health needs.
Cultural Competent Health Promotion for the Hispanic/Latino Ethnic Group
Cultural beliefs and practices that need to be considered when creating a care plan for Hispanic/Latino Americans include the importance of family, the role of religion, and the importance of community. Hispanic/Latino Americans are more likely to prefer home remedies to Western medicine. Hence, the best cultural theory or model to support culturally competent health promotion for Hispanic/Latino Americans is the Health Belief Model (Avilés-Santa et al., 2020). The model emphasizes the importance of understanding people’s beliefs about their health and their health care. It also focuses on the role of the community in supporting health promotion.
Conclusion
In the United States, Hispanic/Latino individuals have a higher risk for developing chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension when compared to other ethnic groups. These chronic health conditions are often the result of lifestyle choices such as inadequate diet and physical inactivity. Additionally, Hispanic/Latino individuals are more probable to smoke cigarettes and have higher rates of alcohol consumption when compared to other ethnic groups. While the overall health status of Hispanic/Latino individuals in America is not as enhanced as it could be, there are many programs and initiatives in place to help improve the health of that minority ethnic population.
References
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Unfair and unjust practices and conditions harm Hispanic and Latino people and Drive Health Disparities.
Concha, J. B., Kelly, K., & Mezuk, B. (2021). Hispanic/Latino ethnic identity and diabetes: an examination of underlying acculturation processes and the Hispanic/Latino health advantage. Health Education & Behavior, 48(3), 285-294. Web.
Jaceldo-Siegl, K., Estevez, D., Fraser, G. E., Hayes-Bautista, D. E., Flores, H., Jordan, M., & Singh, P. N. (2019). Plant-based diets in Hispanic/Latino adult Adventists in the United States and their association with Body Mass Index. American Journal of Health Promotion, 33(6), 869-875. Web.
Office of Minority Health. (n.d.). Hispanic/Latino Americans. Web.