Introduction
I have chosen Native Americans to deeply explain their race and ethnicity, health disparities and barriers to the advanced health system, health promotional concepts practiced by the Indian Americans, and the cultural aspects to be considered when developing a care plan in society.
Native Americans are indigenous individuals living in North America within the boundaries of contemporary continental United States, Alaska, and the islands of Hawaii State. They comprise various tribes, ethnic teams, States where several live as entire government communities (Oxendine, 2022).
In addition, they have a close association with the United States since they are participants of nations and tribes who have liberty from the administration of the United States. The society and culture of Indian Americans flourish within the extensive population of descendants of immigrants from Africa, Asia, Middle Eastern, and European individuals.
The Ethnic Minority, Race and Ethnicity and The Health Status of Native Americans
Indian Americans belong to various States with varying linguistic, social, cultural, and financial features in terms of ethnicity. For instance, based on religion, the group believes in Christianity methods of worshipping, where most of them communicate in English and other native dialects such as Navajo, Pueblo, and Apache (Minority Rights Group International., 2022).
Race and ethnicity are socially designed forms that have tangible impacts on the life of people who are well-defined by how one observes oneself and how others perceive one in society (Baciu, 2022). Therefore, racial and ethnic inequalities in the health condition of American Indians have extensively contributed to chronic disorders, premature deaths, and injuries that are broadly recognized as the priority national health ad civil rights consequences. Therefore, the effectiveness of this problem can be improved by advancing the data obtained from medical settings that assist in addressing and understanding the health differences.
The health care condition of Native Americans lags compared to other ethnic groups in America despite all the allowed obligations and efforts to promote and support health care facilities to them (Smith, 2022). The group experiences significant disparities based on health care conditions resulting from insufficient access to comprehensive health services. Recently, the America Indians were born with a life expectancy of 4.4 years less than the entire United States population group. Additionally, they consistently pass away at increased rates than other Americans due to curable and preventable infections such as chronic liver disorder and cirrhosis, diabetes, and chronic decreased respiratory diseases.
Health Disparities and Nutritional Challenges Facing American Indians
Native Americans have diverse chronic and mental health inequalities compared to other groups. Due to the poor health conditions of the group, there are increased infection levels of HIV/AIDS, two types of diabetes, obesity, and respiratory cancer diseases due to extreme cigarette smoking by both youths and adults (Baciu, 2022).
In terms of mental health status, the individuals have reported high cases of severe psychological distresses and increased medical prescription about cognitive health services. Moreover, this group’s leading causes of death were heart infections, lung cancer, and fatal accidents.
American Indians have been experiencing poor nutritional diets due to the increased poverty rate since they are located in food deserts. Generally, it is challenging to access nutritious meals such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and total grain carbohydrates for low investments and income (Goetz, 2022). Therefore, this has led to many adults and infants suffering from obesity, heart infections, type 2 diabetes, and overweight women.
The Health Barriers of Native Americans Resulting from Culture, Socioeconomics, Education and Sociopolitical Factors
American Indian communities’ various obstacles in receiving both mental and physical healthcare. The barriers primarily negatively impact the individuals facing homelessness challenge where this community makes the largest percentage of homelessness countrywide.
Therefore, the major health care obstacles among people in this society include discrimination and stigmatization, poor transportation and health care facilities, restrictive policies and regulations from the government, limited clinic hours, cold and bureaucratic customs of health care structure (Wille et al., 2017). In addition, varying conversation forms between the Native Americans and the healthcare providers have been considered another vital barrier since the doctors and nurses cannot understand the information shared by the patient about their illness symptoms.
Health Promotion Activities Practiced by America Indian Communities and The Most Effective Strategy That Is Likely to Be Applied in Care Plan
The invention of various strategies is required to mitigate health inequalities, thus improving the health status of Native Americans. Therefore, some of the approaches employed to focus on disorders prevention, health advancement, and national health include; community-based interventions, tribal control, and management of the health plans, and improved understanding of the role of American Indian’s cultural aspects in modifying health (Geana, 2019).
Since a care plan is a document that highlights the assessed health and social care requirements of the patient and the ways to be supported, the most effective and efficient approach to apply is the conduction of health communication campaigns (Geana, 2019). This concept plays a vital role by installing knowledge and skills among the Native communities about the health issues such as preventive and curative practices and informing them about the directional mechanisms of health structures. In addition, health communication campaigns have also led to developing culturally accurate data and designing the information to the targeted groups’ demands, attitudes, and habits.
Cultural Beliefs to Be Considered When Creating Care Plan and Cultural Theory That Can Support Health Promotion for American Indians
Some of the essential values to be considered while providing nursing and palliative care include patients’ welfare, patient choice, religious difference, language obstacles, unfamiliarity with the hospice settings, personal trauma, unfamiliarity with the and the distrust of the clinicians. Thus, doctors and nurses should enhance their capability of offering patient-centered care by reflecting patients’ customs, values, and cultural backgrounds interrelated to healthcare demands.
The cultural competence model is significant in the health care setting as it builds compassion. However, when a team of individuals reports a particular trend concerning an issue, it becomes a responsibility of each person to get involved and have a united move towards resolving the issues such as patients experiencing chronic diseases to visit healthcare facilities regularly, racial and ethnic minorities and also lack of cultural competence (Nahian & Natasha 2021).
Conclusion
Native Americans should improve healthcare facilities and conditions by reducing the risk behaviors leading to chronic and respiratory diseases, strengthening the tribal States’ health capacity, and improving tribal wellness.
This will lead to reduced mortality rates, increased life expectancies, and improved healthcare and transportation facilities, improving the health standard among American Indian societies.
References
Oxendine, J. (2022). “What Is a Native American?”. https://www.powwows.com/what-is-a-native-american/.
Minority Rights Group International. (2022). “Native Americans – Minority Rights Group.” https://minorityrights.org/minorities/native-americans/.
Smith, M. (2022). “Native Americans: A Crisis in Health Equity.” https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/the-state-of-healthcare-in-the-united-states/native-american-crisis-in-health-equity/#:~:text=American%20Indians%20and%20Alaska%20Natives%20born%20today%20have%20a%20life,cirrhosis%2C%20diabetes%2C%20and%20chronic%20lower.
Goetz, G. (2022). “Nutrition a Pressing Concern for American Indians. Food Safety News”. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/03/nutrition-a-pressing-concern-for-american-indians/#:~:text=Almost%2033%20percent%20of%20all,common%20among%20AI%2FAN%20people.
Wille, S. M., Kemp, K. A., Greenfield, B. L., & Walls, M. L. (2017). Barriers to healthcare for American Indians experiencing homelessness. Journal of social distress and the homeless, 26(1), 1-8.
Nahian, A., & Natasha, J. (2021). “Cultural Competence In Caring For American Indians and Alaska Natives.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570619/.
Baciu, A., Division, H., Practice, B., States, C., & Negussie, Y. et al. (2022). “The State of Health Disparities in the United States.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425844/.
Geana, M. V., Greiner, K. A., Cully, A., Talawyma, M., & Daley, C. M. (2019). Improving health promotion to American Indians in the Midwest United States: Preferred sources of health information and its use for the medical encounter. Journal of community health, 37(6), 1253-1263.
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