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.

Health Promotion in Minority Populations Example Essay

Ethnicity is a medically relevant factor owing to its influence on one’s vulnerability to certain diseases, such as diabetes, as well as its influence on the age at which a disease occurs, such as breast cancer, which occurs at a relatively younger age in Blacks than in Whites. Poverty rates among ethnic minorities are significantly higher than among dominant racial groups, demonstrating the impact of ethnicity on an individual’s social status (US Census Bureau, 2021). 

However, disparities in access to medical care exist across multiple contexts, including residence, gender, and age. The Hispanic population is an ethnic minority group that faces social disadvantages and thus suffers disproportionately from health issues when compared to other dominant racial groups (USDHHS, 2021). This group, however, is cognizant of their societal status and engages in health promotion activities to improve their physical and psychological health. This paper aims to describe this group in various contexts, such as health disparities, health barriers, health promotion activities, and cultural activities that may influence their health plan.

Description of the Ethnic Minority: Hispanics

In terms of ethnic and racial fragmentation, the United States is very diverse. According to the 2019 US Census Bureau, the Hispanic population accounts for 18.4% of the total population of the United States, or 60.5 million people (US Census Bureau, 2020). The group includes people of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish origins, with Mexicans constituting the majority (61.4%) of the population (US Census Bureau, 2020). More than half (55%) of the US Hispanic population lives in three states: California, Texas, and Florida, with California having the nation’s largest Hispanic population of approximately 145.57 million (World Population Review, 2022). 

The statistics further show that 71.1% of Hispanics speak a language other than English (Us Census Bureau, 2020). In terms of health, this population’s life expectancy is 82.1 years, which is slightly higher than the projected 80.6 years for non-Hispanic Whites (US Census Bureau, 2020). Health in this group is influenced by cultural/language factors, access to preventive healthcare, and a lack of insurance coverage, with statistics showing that 18.7% of the Hispanic population were uninsured by 2019, which is higher than the 6.3% percent of the non-Hispanic population (US Census Bureau, 2020). The group’s low insurance rates exacerbate its disadvantages in accessing healthcare.

Health Disparities for the Group

The population faces a high burden of health problems, which have been attributed to a variety of factors. Notably, the population uninsurance rate is high, as evidenced by 18.7% of the Hispanic population not having any form of health insurance (US Census Bureau, 2020); this limits their ability to access health services. The population’s educational attainment is far lower when compared to non-Hispanic groups. According to the US Census Bureau (2020), 70.5% of Hispanics have a high school diploma or higher, compared to 93.3% of non-Hispanics. 

A Bachelor’s degree or higher is held by 17.6% of Hispanics and 36.9% of non-Hispanics (US Census Bureau, 2020). Because education determines a population’s level of health perception, its low access to care may partly be explained by the low educational attainment. Moreover, the Hispanic unemployment rate in 2019 was 5.1%, compared to 3.7% in the non-Hispanic population, indicating that Hispanics may have difficulty accessing care due to financial constraints (US Census Bureau, 2020). Heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, st