Racism in healthcare

What action steps can we take right now and in the future when it comes to improving infant health outcomes?

 To improve the infant health outcomes, the first action step should be changing the racial inequality that exists in the U.S society and in the healthcare system. The root cause of higher rate of infant mortality is racial inequalities. To reduce the racial inequalities, there should be a partnership and community agency whose role is to create collaborative efforts and use innovative approaches to eliminating disparities. The second step is to establishing community awareness events where the agency will address the impact of racism on infant health, perinatal health disparities, promote collaboration, create action plans, create policies, provide family support and build community participation (Unanaturalcausesdoc, 2008). It is important to understand the health issue is a national crisis and to improve the infant health, there should be a multi-level support from state and federal government in making policies, establish national protocols in eliminating racism, provide funding for expansion and sustainability of the partnership and provide technical assistance.

How does racism take a physical toll on the human body over a lifetime?

The number of infant mortality is high in the U.S where African Americans have worse birth outcomes than white Americans. The cause of risk during pregnancy is due to negative impact of racism over their lifetime. For instance, African American women face racial disparities in the health care system due to their ‘blackness' despite whether they have a higher level education, higher income or note (California Newsreel, 2014). They experience unequal treatment and they lack resources in meeting their social needs. The health disparities through the life course and chronic racism affect the health of African American women and increase the health risks. The health disparities create chronic stress which not only affects the body and mind but also triggers premature labor and infant mortality (California Newsreel, 2014).

How do we go about addressing these issues in your future careers?

In my future career, these issues will be addressed by eliminating socioeconomic inequalities, creating policies and interventions to improve the life of minority who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. In addition, this issue will be addressed by using individual-based strategies such as prenatal home visiting and parenting training in lower income populations. In my future career, we shall also establish group parenting programs and social support interventions where the team will improve the physical and mental problems of the minority (Unanaturalcausesdoc, 2008).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Unanaturalcausesdoc. (2008). Unraveling the Mystery of Black-White Differences in Infant Mortality. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INc1a6u8yP4

 

California Newsreel. (2014). How Racism Impacts Pregnancy Outcomes. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUUJIG0-SlA