Question

Diversity of people is what has makes America unique, strong, and by most standards great! Diversity is synonymous with difference, variation, and change. What diversity does in health care is create a myriad of complexities. If we were all alike, “twenty-five years of age, genetically matched, with the same exact environments," it would be so easy to create diagnostic protocols, medical treatments, and health care policies. But as we have seen, we are not all alike. We have chronological, biological, psychological, and social differences. Look at the 2010 U.S. Census data to get an idea of how great these differences are. Additionally, we all have different environmental exposures.

So, how does this impact community health?

Answer 1

Influence of diversities on Community health

The quality of being diverse or different is called Diversity. According to the latest population estimates ,US is having a population of 328,239,5 23 ( July 2019) and Country have a vast variety of population groups . United States of America is democratic country with 50 states , covering a major area of North American continent.

US consist of a wide variety of population, who shows  difference in race, ethnicity, age, and also they show psychological and environmental ddifference. According to 2019 population estimates, the US population consist of;

* Whites - 76 %

* African American- 13%

* American Indians- 1.3%

* Asians- 5.8% .

Not only racial and ehnical difference exist in US but Psychological, chronological , educational and emotional diversities are prevalent among population.  

Impact of diversity and environmental exposure to Community health:

People are different in their health behaviours, culture, beliefs, reaction to the treatment, primary languages , Nutritional habits etc.

* A homogenous health care delivery system will not work: As there are wast variety of people, a homogenous health care delivery system will not work. So Government implemented Different approaches in delivery of health care.

* Changes in protocol of hospitals andhealth care delivery: As different population groups like veterans , multi cultural patients , Hispanic groups and LGBT groups approach hospitals, different protocol has to be applied by hospital staff in treating and communicating with them.

For example: The questions asked in an ER of a hospital to a Veteran should be sensitive as they may have ' Post traumatic stress Disorder '.

* Health determinants also vary according to the diversity, ( educational, socio-economic status, housing quality ) of population .

* Health education approaches also should be vary according to the differences in population groups.

* Minorities show a distance to preventive measures against chronic diseases. They are not much involving in health promotion activities. They tend to develop more Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

* Community health is greatly influenced by all the diversities existing among population like race, ethnicity, education, socio-economic status, population groups. etc.

* Diversity influence recruitment process: Government has taken steps to recruit health care professionals from different race and ethnicity so that they can achieve patient satisfaction.  

Environmental exposures also affect Community health. Air pollution and air quality of different places and cities can have a major impact of people in the community. Toxic, chemical substances in the environment, water and food contaminants, chemicals , presevatives and colours used in food items may cause increased risk of cancer among population. Poor housing conditions and dangerous occupational environment may increase the risk of spread of communicable diseases and accidents among population.