Select an ethnic minority group that is represented in the United States (American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander). Using health information available from Healthy People, the CDC, and other relevant government websites, analyze the health status for this group.

In a paper of 1,000-1,250 words, compare and contrast the health status of your selected minority group to the national average. Include the following:

Describe the ethnic minority group selected. Describe the current health status of this group. How do race and ethnicity influence health for this group?
What are the health disparities that exist for this group? What are the nutritional challenges for this group?
Discuss the barriers to health for this group resulting from culture, socioeconomics, education, and sociopolitical factors.
What health promotion activities are often practiced by this group?
Describe at least one approach using the three levels of health promotion prevention (primary, secondary, and tertiary) that is likely to be the most effective in a care plan given the unique needs of the minority group you have selected. Provide an explanation of why it might be the most effective choice.
What cultural beliefs or practices must be considered when creating a care plan? What cultural theory or model would be best to support culturally competent health promotion for this population? Why?

Cite at least three peer-reviewed or scholarly sources to complete this assignment. Sources should be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and public health content.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Solution:

Health Promotion in Minority Populations

In the recent past, the population of the United States has continued to be more and more diverse. This has been attributed by various factors including increased globalization and diversity programs by the government. Presently, approximately 36 percent of the population the country belongs to an ethnic or racial minority group (Barr, 2014). Although most of the health indicators such as life expectancy and infant mortality have improved significantly over the last few years, minority groups in the country have continued to experience a disproportionate burden when it comes to disability, chronic illnesses, and deaths. This is in comparison to the non-minorities. On this basis, this essay is devoted to exploring the health status of the African Americans in the United States and intervention strategy for health promotion.

Health Status of African Americans

African Americans typically represent the second largest minority group in the United States after the Hispanics. Currently, according to the CDC (2019), there are about 40.7 million African Americans in the country, which represents approximately 12.7 percent of the entire population. As explained by Williams, Priest, and Anderson (2016), the health status of the African Americans in the United States is characterized by high prevalence in obesity, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, hypertension and sexually transmitted diseases particularly HIV/AIDS. This is in comparison to the whites in the country. Although the United States is experiencing a health crisis in regards to the aforementioned chronic illnesses, the crisis has a greater impact in the Black community. This is hugely attributed to the fact that they have less access to appropriate healthcare such as preventive care for both children as well as adults.

Health Disparities and Nutritional Challenges

Health disparities are the differences in the incidence, prevalence in mortality of disease that exists among a given population group. Taking this into consideration, O’Keefe, Meltzer, and Bethea (2015) have indicated that heart diseases, cancer, stroke, as well as diabetes have been considered to the most causes of disability, illnesses, and deaths in the United States. However, these conditions alongside their risks factor are typically common among the African American. Specifically, blacks are 77 percent more likely to have diabetes in comparison to the non-Hispanic whites (Williams et al., 2016). In terms of life expectancy, currently, while the life expectancy rate of the African Americans is 74.8 years, which of the non-Hispanic whites is 78.5. When it comes to nutritional challenges, the black population in the country is characterized by poor eating habits mostly attributed to low levels of income and education (OMH, 2019). This explains why obesity and related conditions are more prevalent among blacks as compared to….Please click the icon below to purchase full answer at only $10