In healthcare, we can examine the factors of social determinants of health these include socioeconomic status, education, access to health care, environment, and community. Socioeconomic status pertains to one’s wealth, in healthcare we can see a wealth-health gap. This gap impacts one’s accessibility to health care as well as the location in which one resides. For instance, if an individual lives in northern Maine, the ability to access healthcare may take up to an hour drive or longer. In regard to the wealth-health gap, some races are greatly impacted by this such as, African Americans and Hispanics.
In the class sociology of poverty, students had learned how society has impacted certain communities and races by poverty in the United States. For instance, after World War II some suburban neighborhoods after construction did not allow African Americans to utilize their Pell Grant to purchase homes in these suburbs. Thus, African American veterans were subjected to live in cities and thus, forced upon paying rent for housing. Meanwhile, their white counterparts were able to utilize their Pell Grant to pay for housing. This is just one of many examples of how race and poverty are correlated in America.
Education is also correlated to poverty in America, in the aspect of the ability to obtain adequate resources for students. As well as in the aspect of drop-out rates of high school students. This can thus, be correlated back to race as well. The importance upon the realization of this will help individuals recognize that individuals in certain communities are unable to access, pay, and potentially do not understand the importance of healthcare. For some, this is simply the cost that is required to obtain adequate healthcare in the United States. In the presentation, we learned that non-compliance for certain visitations, tuberculosis medication observation, was a result of an individual’s daily schedule. Being understanding and showing compassion is essential in healthcare, and working with a patient to understand their “non-compliance” is essential in aiding in quality healthcare. Communication and the ability to compromise with a patient in their own means will help provide quality healthcare in the United States.
