Healthy people 2010 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Healthy people 2010 - Essay Example Health disparities – also known as ‘health inequality’ is defined as health inequality related to age differences; or â€Å"the lack of equality in terms of opportunity for treatment†. (American Heritage, 2000) In U.S., the use of the term ‘health disparities’ may refer to the â€Å"health outcomes that are unavoidable, potentially avoidable, unfair, and unacceptable† because of lack of education, health care equipments, clean air, and water which contributes to unhealthy living condition. (Carter-Pokras & Baquet, 2002) African Americans, Hispanics and other the minority groups like the Pacific Islander and Asians as compared to the White Americans are reported to frequently experience health disparities based on the ten leading health indicators such as: (1) Physical Activity; (2) Overweight and obesity; (3) tobacco use; (4) substance abuse; (5) responsible sexual behavior; (6) mental health; (7) injury and violence; (8) environmental quality; (9) immunization; and (10) access to health care. (Healthy People 2010, 2008b) (See Table I – Summary of Health Indicators in the United States on page 3) The main cause of health disparities is poverty and lack of education. Lack of education makes people unable to find job. In the absence of financial resources, millions of people will have no access to health care facilities. Promotion of Healthy People 2010 is not enough to prevent health disparities in the U.S. To minimize health disparities, the government should support the educational needs of the under-served population. AmericanHeritage. (2000). American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 4th Ed. in Carter-Pokras O. & Baquet C. (ed) What is "Health Disparity"? 2002. Public Helath Reports. 117(September - October):426 -