The coronavirus pandemic resulted in wholly unprecedented shifts in daily life and routine. This included more individuals working from home, utilizing video chatting software daily, and increased social media usage (SMU) during lockdowns. SMU has consistently been shown to increase during crises. Social media and video chat usage are on the rise, but many do not acknowledge the negative impacts of high usage. However, high SMU has been associated with negative body image perception and reduced self-confidence. It has also been associated with the development of other disordered behaviors and conditions such as eating disorders and anxiety. Through a comprehensive literature review of recently published studies, there appears to be a strong association between young adults who increased their SMU during the pandemic and suffered from a negative body image perception and reduced self-confidence. As an example, adding more body-positive programming aimed at improving body image perceptions and self-confidence will likely contribute to a reduced chance of developing associated behaviors. Furthermore, mitigation strategies such as mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and dialectical thinking should be encouraged and widely accessible in the United States regardless of insurance coverage. However, further research will be needed to determine if these effects will persist post-pandemic and which mitigation strategies are most effective.
{"title":"The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Social Media Usage and Body Image Perceptions in Young Adults","authors":"Magda Wojtara","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2321","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2321","url":null,"abstract":"The coronavirus pandemic resulted in wholly unprecedented shifts in daily life and routine. This included more individuals working from home, utilizing video chatting software daily, and increased social media usage (SMU) during lockdowns. SMU has consistently been shown to increase during crises. Social media and video chat usage are on the rise, but many do not acknowledge the negative impacts of high usage. However, high SMU has been associated with negative body image perception and reduced self-confidence. It has also been associated with the development of other disordered behaviors and conditions such as eating disorders and anxiety. Through a comprehensive literature review of recently published studies, there appears to be a strong association between young adults who increased their SMU during the pandemic and suffered from a negative body image perception and reduced self-confidence. As an example, adding more body-positive programming aimed at improving body image perceptions and self-confidence will likely contribute to a reduced chance of developing associated behaviors. Furthermore, mitigation strategies such as mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and dialectical thinking should be encouraged and widely accessible in the United States regardless of insurance coverage. However, further research will be needed to determine if these effects will persist post-pandemic and which mitigation strategies are most effective.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45038984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The current state of healthcare in Africa is disastrous, especially when compared to that of Western societies. Statistics show that people are dying young and experiencing disability at an exponentially higher rate in Africa than people in Western society. The root of this inequality is attributed to multiple sources. Some speculate that this inequality is due to the state of Africa itself. The weak economy and corrupt leadership must have created these health issues in Africa. Others argue it is due to the lack of development of the African society. Underfunded social services, the lack of infrastructure, and the depletion of human and material resources play a role in the health disparities. These speculations scratch at the surface of issues of inequality in Africa but fail to address the underlying causes. These factors play a role in the lackluster healthcare system in Africa and are negatively affecting the health of Africans. It is evident that the ills of the healthcare system are caused not by Africans themselves but rather by the system of colonialism that is exploiting and depriving Africa continuously through corruption, the lack of self-agency, and the idolization of Western culture. This article will examine the roots of colonialism embedded in the healthcare system in one country, Ghana, to model methods of change for the rest of the continent. Inequality is a radical force in society and can only be solved through radical means. Solutions to jumpstart the healthcare system in Ghana, and Africa as a whole, are necessary to release the ties of colonialism from Africa that exacerbate inequality in the healthcare system.
{"title":"Free At Last: An Introspective Guide into the Embedded Roots of Colonialism in the Current State of Healthcare in Ghana","authors":"Evelyn Boateng-Ade","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2310","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2310","url":null,"abstract":"The current state of healthcare in Africa is disastrous, especially when compared to that of Western societies. Statistics show that people are dying young and experiencing disability at an exponentially higher rate in Africa than people in Western society. The root of this inequality is attributed to multiple sources. Some speculate that this inequality is due to the state of Africa itself. The weak economy and corrupt leadership must have created these health issues in Africa. Others argue it is due to the lack of development of the African society. Underfunded social services, the lack of infrastructure, and the depletion of human and material resources play a role in the health disparities. These speculations scratch at the surface of issues of inequality in Africa but fail to address the underlying causes. These factors play a role in the lackluster healthcare system in Africa and are negatively affecting the health of Africans. It is evident that the ills of the healthcare system are caused not by Africans themselves but rather by the system of colonialism that is exploiting and depriving Africa continuously through corruption, the lack of self-agency, and the idolization of Western culture. This article will examine the roots of colonialism embedded in the healthcare system in one country, Ghana, to model methods of change for the rest of the continent. Inequality is a radical force in society and can only be solved through radical means. Solutions to jumpstart the healthcare system in Ghana, and Africa as a whole, are necessary to release the ties of colonialism from Africa that exacerbate inequality in the healthcare system.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48139725","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emily Kopp, Noah Zimmerman, A. Yu, Alexandra Pejas
In this study, we examined polio eradication efforts in the urban and rural areas of Nigeria and India. Our method utilized past literature and databases to support our comparison of the different issues Nigeria and India had with distributing the oral polio vaccine (OPV). The data showed that Nigeria had issues with political and social misconceptions about the OPV in both urban and rural areas while India had technical issues with vaccine distribution. Therefore, it was necessary for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to implement polio campaigns, reorganize their plan in vaccine distribution, and provide more vaccines to children in isolated areas where there is poor medical infrastructure in both Nigeria and India. We conclude that there needs to be a greater cultural understanding among vaccine distributors and improvements to the vaccine distribution technology in Nigeria and India.
{"title":"A Case Study of the Barriers to Eradicating Polio in Nigeria and India’s Urban and Rural Settings","authors":"Emily Kopp, Noah Zimmerman, A. Yu, Alexandra Pejas","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2312","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we examined polio eradication efforts in the urban and rural areas of Nigeria and India. Our method utilized past literature and databases to support our comparison of the different issues Nigeria and India had with distributing the oral polio vaccine (OPV). The data showed that Nigeria had issues with political and social misconceptions about the OPV in both urban and rural areas while India had technical issues with vaccine distribution. Therefore, it was necessary for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to implement polio campaigns, reorganize their plan in vaccine distribution, and provide more vaccines to children in isolated areas where there is poor medical infrastructure in both Nigeria and India. We conclude that there needs to be a greater cultural understanding among vaccine distributors and improvements to the vaccine distribution technology in Nigeria and India.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41638169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
In 2018, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) named Wayne State University (WSU) the nation’s fastest-improving university for graduation rates with an increase from 26% to 47% between 2011 and 2017. This growth was influenced by programs and organizations focused on narrowing the student population achievement gap, including men of color. Since 2016, WSU has utilized a culturally competent approach to support Black male students. The approach highlighted here is The Brotherhood, a student-led organization geared toward undergraduate Black men. As part of the larger initiative to increase graduation rates, this organization concentrates on social action and student engagement while encompassing facets of academic, social, and emotional wellness. We conducted a study to obtain quantitative and qualitative data about this organization’s potential impact on Black male undergraduate students. Our results suggest that WSU Black males participating in The Brotherhood have performed better academically than other Black WSU students in their cohort. Additionally, we found that these members learned critical transferable skills applicable to their career fields. Here we describe the fundamental components of The Brotherhood that are attributed to these findings.
{"title":"Developing a Black Student-Led Support Infrastructure at Wayne State University, a Predominantly White Institution","authors":"Kamali A. Clora, Miles N. Reuben, Kenya Swanson","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2311","url":null,"abstract":"In 2018, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) named Wayne State University (WSU) the nation’s fastest-improving university for graduation rates with an increase from 26% to 47% between 2011 and 2017. This growth was influenced by programs and organizations focused on narrowing the student population achievement gap, including men of color. Since 2016, WSU has utilized a culturally competent approach to support Black male students. The approach highlighted here is The Brotherhood, a student-led organization geared toward undergraduate Black men. As part of the larger initiative to increase graduation rates, this organization concentrates on social action and student engagement while encompassing facets of academic, social, and emotional wellness. We conducted a study to obtain quantitative and qualitative data about this organization’s potential impact on Black male undergraduate students. Our results suggest that WSU Black males participating in The Brotherhood have performed better academically than other Black WSU students in their cohort. Additionally, we found that these members learned critical transferable skills applicable to their career fields. Here we describe the fundamental components of The Brotherhood that are attributed to these findings.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46877431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible health effects of climate change on Black girls’ and women’s health in the United States and analyze Black women-centered solutions for climate change mitigation. Anthropogenic climate change is projected to have a deleterious effect on human health, with rising heat levels, increasing levels of air pollution, and extreme weather events interacting to cause a multitude of adverse human health outcomes. At the crux of sexism and racism, Black women are projected to face a unique set of health outcomes. Racist-built environments, a legacy of hypersexualization, and a sociopolitical environment entrenched in gendered racism all create a complex set of adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, the health effects of intergenerational racialized trauma posit Black women as more susceptible to certain health conditions under climate change. Likewise, the unique positionality of Black women also means that Black women-centered methodologies lead to stronger mitigation strategies. Employing Black feminist theory, Black queer feminist theory, and Womanism to combat climate change could create more holistic, intersectional solutions. Fighting gendered racism requires a restructuring of power, thereby centering Black women as leaders in the climate movement is imperative to achieving environmental justice.
{"title":"The Impact of Climate Change on Black Girls’ and Women’s Health: Using Theory to Mitigate and Organize","authors":"Naomi Michelson","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2314","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2314","url":null,"abstract":"The purpose of this paper is to explore the possible health effects of climate change on Black girls’ and women’s health in the United States and analyze Black women-centered solutions for climate change mitigation. Anthropogenic climate change is projected to have a deleterious effect on human health, with rising heat levels, increasing levels of air pollution, and extreme weather events interacting to cause a multitude of adverse human health outcomes. At the crux of sexism and racism, Black women are projected to face a unique set of health outcomes. Racist-built environments, a legacy of hypersexualization, and a sociopolitical environment entrenched in gendered racism all create a complex set of adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, the health effects of intergenerational racialized trauma posit Black women as more susceptible to certain health conditions under climate change. Likewise, the unique positionality of Black women also means that Black women-centered methodologies lead to stronger mitigation strategies. Employing Black feminist theory, Black queer feminist theory, and Womanism to combat climate change could create more holistic, intersectional solutions. Fighting gendered racism requires a restructuring of power, thereby centering Black women as leaders in the climate movement is imperative to achieving environmental justice.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45364888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The rise of contagious disease within recent history has highlighted the ineffectiveness of the American systems set in place to deal with pandemic policies and preparedness. The confused relationship between federal and state powers as it relates to delegating roles during national health emergencies was especially highlighted during the Trump administration, understood through their decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying the protection motivation theory, a heavily research psychological theorem, to behaviors seen during past and current pandemics can offer insight into the reactionary missteps of both the government and citizens today.
{"title":"Global Pandemics: The Manifestation of Societal and Economic Havoc","authors":"T. O'Keefe","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2318","url":null,"abstract":"The rise of contagious disease within recent history has highlighted the ineffectiveness of the American systems set in place to deal with pandemic policies and preparedness. The confused relationship between federal and state powers as it relates to delegating roles during national health emergencies was especially highlighted during the Trump administration, understood through their decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applying the protection motivation theory, a heavily research psychological theorem, to behaviors seen during past and current pandemics can offer insight into the reactionary missteps of both the government and citizens today.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45104964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A principle rooted in the Hippocratic medical tradition is “first, do no harm,” a core value for healthcare providers around the world. This principle is based on the importance of ensuring that no medical harm is incurred by patients before any procedures are performed. However, this principle is often violated through unseen infections that affect patients in the clinical setting. Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are illnesses that originate within hospitals and healthcare facilities where patients receive treatment. The International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium reports the HCAI prevalence in India as approximately 9.06 infections per 1,000 intensive care unit (ICU) patient days; the HCAI infection rate can vary between 4.4 and 83.09 percent across different hospitals in India, which is considerably higher than other wealthy countries (Iyer et al., 2015). Not only can HCAIs have a negative impact on patients’ health, but they can also pose risks in the long run and present a financial burden. This article will address interactions between factors such as lack of resources for sanitation, knowledge gap in proper hospital hygienic practices, poor accountability procedures, and accuracy of hospital accreditation. Additionally, I explore ways for bridging the cultural gap by integrating Ayurvedic alternative medicine principles to allow for better retention of sanitation practices among communities at the local level. Overall, by working through these detailed factors, the Indian healthcare system can focus on going above and beyond its “do no harm” guideline and enhancing patients’ lives by addressing behavioral and structural challenges related to infections originating in the clinical setting.
{"title":"Addressing the Prevalence of Healthcare-Associated Infections in India","authors":"Chinmayi Balusu","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2307","url":null,"abstract":"A principle rooted in the Hippocratic medical tradition is “first, do no harm,” a core value for healthcare providers around the world. This principle is based on the importance of ensuring that no medical harm is incurred by patients before any procedures are performed. However, this principle is often violated through unseen infections that affect patients in the clinical setting. Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) are illnesses that originate within hospitals and healthcare facilities where patients receive treatment. The International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium reports the HCAI prevalence in India as approximately 9.06 infections per 1,000 intensive care unit (ICU) patient days; the HCAI infection rate can vary between 4.4 and 83.09 percent across different hospitals in India, which is considerably higher than other wealthy countries (Iyer et al., 2015). Not only can HCAIs have a negative impact on patients’ health, but they can also pose risks in the long run and present a financial burden. This article will address interactions between factors such as lack of resources for sanitation, knowledge gap in proper hospital hygienic practices, poor accountability procedures, and accuracy of hospital accreditation. Additionally, I explore ways for bridging the cultural gap by integrating Ayurvedic alternative medicine principles to allow for better retention of sanitation practices among communities at the local level. Overall, by working through these detailed factors, the Indian healthcare system can focus on going above and beyond its “do no harm” guideline and enhancing patients’ lives by addressing behavioral and structural challenges related to infections originating in the clinical setting.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44481510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
An assessment of public health literature suggests that correctional institutions have adverse effects on the mental health of prisoners, and this article responds to this issue by putting the current medical model of mental illness as it is applied in the criminal justice system under a critical lens, analyzing how it has proven insufficient in providing better mental health outcomes for inmates with mental illness. An expansion of the social model of mental health is proposed, one that is grounded in the belief that consideration of the social determinants of mental health is paramount to understanding why the mentally ill are disproportionately brought into the criminal justice system in the first place. Furthermore, federal studies have shown that incarcerated women experience mental health conditions at disproportionate rates, despite making up a smaller proportion of the prison population. Explaining this gender disparity has been an emerging area of research in criminal justice and mental health reform, and this article explores it by analyzing how the prison environment perpetuates it, investigating specific social circumstances that are particularly triggering to the mental health of incarcerated women, such as separation from children and increased exposure to sexual abuse and domestic violence. The article concludes with an examination of a case study of how the expanded social model is currently being applied to the specific context of incarcerated women’s mental health, demonstrating its effectiveness and advocating for the widespread implementation of similar initiatives.
{"title":"A Social Model of Mental Illness: The Key to Liberating Incarcerated Women from Ineffective Mental Health Treatment","authors":"Madeleine Salem","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2308","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2308","url":null,"abstract":"An assessment of public health literature suggests that correctional institutions have adverse effects on the mental health of prisoners, and this article responds to this issue by putting the current medical model of mental illness as it is applied in the criminal justice system under a critical lens, analyzing how it has proven insufficient in providing better mental health outcomes for inmates with mental illness. An expansion of the social model of mental health is proposed, one that is grounded in the belief that consideration of the social determinants of mental health is paramount to understanding why the mentally ill are disproportionately brought into the criminal justice system in the first place. Furthermore, federal studies have shown that incarcerated women experience mental health conditions at disproportionate rates, despite making up a smaller proportion of the prison population. Explaining this gender disparity has been an emerging area of research in criminal justice and mental health reform, and this article explores it by analyzing how the prison environment perpetuates it, investigating specific social circumstances that are particularly triggering to the mental health of incarcerated women, such as separation from children and increased exposure to sexual abuse and domestic violence. The article concludes with an examination of a case study of how the expanded social model is currently being applied to the specific context of incarcerated women’s mental health, demonstrating its effectiveness and advocating for the widespread implementation of similar initiatives.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42690571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Young Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are uniquely vulnerable to a growing burden of mental health challenges. This literature review explores the AAPI cultural factors and beliefs that shape mental health and mental healthcare-seeking behaviors. It discusses the AAPI family hierarchy as a barrier to young AAPIs feeling validated in their mental health experiences as well as how the value of “saving face” can prevent seeking care in order to protect the familial reputation. Through the exploration of the unacceptability of psychological expressions of distress in many AAPI cultures, it examines how the existing Western mental healthcare system is incompatible with other expressions of mental distress such as physical symptoms. This literature review then reviews how discrimination in the form of the model minority stereotype not only causes poor mental health outcomes but also prevents young AAPIs from viewing treatment as a viable or acceptable source of care. Acculturation as a risk factor is discussed by linking acculturative stressors to poor mental health outcomes. To address these issues, this literature review discusses culturally competent mental health care and increased AAPI representation in the mental healthcare workforce as potential solutions or interventions to be implemented to better meet the needs of the target population. While there is currently limited empirical evidence on the efficacy of cultural competency, they have become more commonly identified as an intervention strategy by both practitioners and patients themselves. Finally, increased representation of AAPI people in the mental healthcare workforce may encourage young AAPIs to seek care and view treatment as legitimate sources of support.
{"title":"“Model Minority” Mental Health: An Examination of the Barriers to Effective Care Among Young AAPIs","authors":"C. Renehan","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2317","url":null,"abstract":"Young Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are uniquely vulnerable to a growing burden of mental health challenges. This literature review explores the AAPI cultural factors and beliefs that shape mental health and mental healthcare-seeking behaviors. It discusses the AAPI family hierarchy as a barrier to young AAPIs feeling validated in their mental health experiences as well as how the value of “saving face” can prevent seeking care in order to protect the familial reputation. Through the exploration of the unacceptability of psychological expressions of distress in many AAPI cultures, it examines how the existing Western mental healthcare system is incompatible with other expressions of mental distress such as physical symptoms. This literature review then reviews how discrimination in the form of the model minority stereotype not only causes poor mental health outcomes but also prevents young AAPIs from viewing treatment as a viable or acceptable source of care. Acculturation as a risk factor is discussed by linking acculturative stressors to poor mental health outcomes. To address these issues, this literature review discusses culturally competent mental health care and increased AAPI representation in the mental healthcare workforce as potential solutions or interventions to be implemented to better meet the needs of the target population. While there is currently limited empirical evidence on the efficacy of cultural competency, they have become more commonly identified as an intervention strategy by both practitioners and patients themselves. Finally, increased representation of AAPI people in the mental healthcare workforce may encourage young AAPIs to seek care and view treatment as legitimate sources of support.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"70396258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has shed light on racial disparities in healthcare access. An analysis of hospitalization and death rates supports that Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic when compared to their white counterparts. With no credible biological basis for this disparity, social determinants of health, specifically access to healthcare, have been examined to help explain the devastating impact on the Black community. National data demonstrates that Black Americans experience higher rates of unemployment brought on by the pandemic, leaving them without their typical employer-sponsored health insurance. Lack of Medicaid expansion across all 50 states only exacerbates this uninsured rate, leaving many without an insurance safety net. In the case of treatment and prevention services, historically segregated Black communities face a lack of access to COVID-19 tests in their own neighborhoods. Simultaneously, Black patients are more likely to access care at a later time, with many being tested for COVID-19 in a hospital rather than an ambulatory environment. Finally, the lack of cultural competency of the medical staff and workforce hinders the formation of collaborative relationships between patients and providers. This furthers feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s care, perpetuating mistrust and misbeliefs surrounding vaccination and COVID-19 treatment. Access to healthcare, due to its strong ties to policy, requires policy intervention: a national effort to expand coverage across all states, dedicating health resources to historically disadvantaged communities, and providing culturally relevant information about the pandemic to marginalized populations.
{"title":"Limited Access to Healthcare: Examining Factors Leading to Higher COVID-19 Hospitalization and Death Rates Among Black Americans","authors":"Shichi Dhar","doi":"10.3998/ujph.2319","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3998/ujph.2319","url":null,"abstract":"The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has shed light on racial disparities in healthcare access. An analysis of hospitalization and death rates supports that Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic when compared to their white counterparts. With no credible biological basis for this disparity, social determinants of health, specifically access to healthcare, have been examined to help explain the devastating impact on the Black community. National data demonstrates that Black Americans experience higher rates of unemployment brought on by the pandemic, leaving them without their typical employer-sponsored health insurance. Lack of Medicaid expansion across all 50 states only exacerbates this uninsured rate, leaving many without an insurance safety net. In the case of treatment and prevention services, historically segregated Black communities face a lack of access to COVID-19 tests in their own neighborhoods. Simultaneously, Black patients are more likely to access care at a later time, with many being tested for COVID-19 in a hospital rather than an ambulatory environment. Finally, the lack of cultural competency of the medical staff and workforce hinders the formation of collaborative relationships between patients and providers. This furthers feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s care, perpetuating mistrust and misbeliefs surrounding vaccination and COVID-19 treatment. Access to healthcare, due to its strong ties to policy, requires policy intervention: a national effort to expand coverage across all states, dedicating health resources to historically disadvantaged communities, and providing culturally relevant information about the pandemic to marginalized populations.","PeriodicalId":75202,"journal":{"name":"The undergraduate journal of public health at the University of Michigan","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45010844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：