An important aspect of the professional nurse’s role is the ability to provide culturally competent nursing care. Reflect on the demographics of the area in which you live and cultures that are represented. In this assignment provide a 3-4-page APA formatted paper discussing the demographics of the area in which you live. Identify cultural assessment considerations for the ethnic groups in the area, and any social determinants of health associated with the ethnic groups. Identify and discuss one health promotion topic specific to the ethnic groups in your area. The paper must include at least three scholarly references, including a minimum of one peer-reviewed journal, as well as meeting turn-it in program requirements.

Cultural and Ethnic Assessment

The American population is ever expanding in terms of racial and ethnic represenation compared with initial structure that was predominantly Caucasian. Statistics from the US Census Bureau (USCB), for example, estimate the Hispanic population to be over 60 million, which is close to 20% (USCB, 2023). The growth of what was initially considered minority population groups has led to increased demand for the provision of culturally competent care. Culturally competent care entails the delivery of care with consideration of the patient’s cultural beliefs, values, and practices.

Research indicates a positive correlation between culturally sensitive care delivered by culturally competent staff with positive patient outcomes (Nair & Adetayo, 2019). High levels of cultural competence lead to increased patient satisfaction, better adherence to treatment interventions, and most importantly, a reduction in racial and ethnic disparities that have plagued the US healthcare system for a long time (Nair & Adetayo, 2019).

The purpose of this paper is to provide a demographic analysis of the population residing in the State of Texas, identifying the cultural assessment considerations for the ethnic groups in the state, the social determinants that affect the health outcomes of the ethnic groups, and lastly, a health promotion intervention based on the needs of the population living in the state.

Demographic and Ethnic Assessment

As of July 2023, the population of the entire State of Texas was 30,503,301, making it the second most populous state and also the second largest in terms of land mass after the State of California (USCB, 2023). The population in the State of Texas is predominantly White, with 77.4% representation, followed by Blacks with 13.4% representation. Hispanics make up the largest ethnic group, with a representation of 40.2%, followed by Caucasians alone with 39.8%. Asians alone have a representation of 5.7%, with the remaining ethnic minority groups having less than 5% cumulatively (USCB, 2023).

The majority of the population is between 18 and 65 years old, with the female gender representing 50% of the population. Persons below 18 years make up 24.8%, while those who are 65 years and above are slightly over 13% of the population (USCB, 2023). In terms of education, over 85.2% of the residents living in Texas have a high school diploma or higher, with 32.3% having at least a bachelor’s degree.

The median income of Texas is $73,035, where those living below the federal poverty level being 14.0% of the entire population. 18.9% of persons under 65 years have no health insurance cover, making it a significant challenge in terms of access to affordable healthcare (USCB, 2023). It is estimated that over 34% of the residents living in Texans are obese compared to 31%, which is currently the prevalence rate of obesity in the US (Hudson & Simiyu, 2022).

Over 12% of the residents living in Texas aged 12 years or older used some form of illicit drugs in the past year (SAMHSA, 2019). Additionally, statistics indicate that in 2020, 13.2% of adults living in Texas smoked, while the annual average prevalence of past-month alcohol use in the state was quoted at 9.4% (SAMHSA, 2019). The statistics present several health-related challenges that the state faces, which should be addressed with targeted interventions.

Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health are factors surrounding an individual or the conditions in which they were born, live, or work, which affects their health outcomes (Islam), 2019). From the demographic assessment of the state, one of the definitive social determinants of health is access to affordable healthcare. Data from the US Census Bureau revealed that over 18% of the residents have no health insurance coverage (USCB, 2023). Uninsured adults are less likely to receive different forms of healthcare services, including preventive services for chronic conditions such as diabetes and cancer, leading to poor outcomes.

Another determinant is economic stability. Persons living below the poverty level or those from low-income households are less likely to afford basic necessities such as nutritious foods, proper shelter, and quality healthcare, which affects their overall health outcomes. Similarly, low-income households often live in neighborhoods with dilapidated structures, or have high exposure to pollutants, or safety and security risks, which also translate to poor health outcomes. From the statistics presented, 14% of the residents in Texas live below the federal poverty level (USCB, 2023).

Another determinant is the level of education.