High Risk For Developing Diabetes Mellitus - 1226 Words

The Hispanic population in terms of health issues are at high risk for developing diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, hypertension, HIV/AIDS, alcoholism, cirrhosis, and death from violence, (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Leading Causes of Death, www.cdc.gov/men/lcod/index.htm). These individuals often face many barriers in their healthcare. The biggest barrier is the language. Most of the individuals that are residing in the United States do not speak fluent English. The older ones often rely on their younger family members to help translate when going to see their provider. So when these patients go for their check-ups it is often a struggle for both the patient and the provider to communicate. Not just as in the aspect of†¦show more content†¦From this particular culture patients may heavily rely on non-clinical healthcare practices. These practices may focus on traditional healers and folk medicine. These needs may be their religious beliefs, values, customs, cu lture, and diet that may affect the outcome of that individual patient’s treatment plan. All these factors can hinder the patient from getting medical attention and/or in seeing a doctor. Like most Hispanics, their diet consists of a creole blend and fried foods. Whether it is some sort of meat such as pork or chicken that is fried, then there are the fried plantains, rice, and beans. Vegetables are usually a scarce item in their part of the world. The living conditions for most of these individuals live in poverty conditions. Usually they find work in factories, farm workers and/or agricultural laborers, housekeeping, and janitorial services. These jobs are most likely not to have healthcare benefits. Since their income usually falls under the U.S. poverty level guidelines making it difficult for them to get adequate healthcare. The majority of the Hispanic population that resides in the U.S. is either underinsured or uninsured. After reading the Final Ethics Scenario, describing the several issues that immigrants are often faced with their culture that evidentially affects their health. The article discussed an elderly Puerto Rican lady with several health issues.