We can Learn from the Asians

The Asian/Pacific Islanders seems to me to be the poster child of good health practices. I was surprised that within their heritage the physician is not paid once a patient becomes ill. This puts the attention on preventative care and maintenance of their health. Other statistics show us why in general Asians have a good health record. 39% of Asians hold a managerial and professional specialty jobs. They have the highest medium income of all other races including all native households. Education is high in the Asian race, 84% of Asians have high school education and higher. Also their healthcare practices are widely accepted in the United States, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping , massage, and bleeding by using leeches. One more important factor is their healthcare training. In China healthcare students have the option of studying either Chinese or Western medicine. If they select Western medicine, a limited amount of Chinese medicine is also taught. Wow the combining of culture practices and beliefs how profound. Their current health care problems are basically the same as the white race, that being disease of heart, Malignant neoplasm and cerebrovascular diseases to name the top three.

In contras African Americans have greater healthcare disparities. A 22.1% of the black race lives in poverty. By now we all know the disparities cause by this social class and its effect on all races. Overcrowding in public housing in urban areas also contribute to poor healthcare conditions. Poor schooling and high crime rate also contribute to healthcare disparities within the African American race. Hurricane Katrina was an illuminating example of the inability of this social class to get out of harms way and to receive needed healthcare services. Most affected was the black race. Folk medicine and Voodoo are highly practiced within this race resulting in avoiding hospitals except for extreme emergencies. Also it seems clear that racism still plays a large roll in their healthcare disparities. Adding to this is there race based disease of sickle-cell; at present, statistics indicate that only 50% of children with sickle-cell disease live to adulthood. Some children die before the age of twenty and some suffer complications during their lifetime that are chronic and irreversible. Skin conditions are also a race based healthcare problem for blacks. There is a very low rate of enrollment in healthcare education among the African Americans. Besides disease of heart that effect all races, hypertension, cancer, aids, and STDs are higher than any other race.

My final thought is the magnitude of importance to know a cultures strengths, weakness, and beliefs. It is paramount to diagnosing, treatment, and a favorable outcome to a holistic healing.

Reference:

(Spector, Rachel E.. Cultural Diversity in Health & Illness, 6th Edition. 072003: Prentice Hall, 072003. 12.5.1).