NRS 429V Week 2 Discussion 1

According to the assigned article, “Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes,” narratives tell the story of the interconnectedness between fear and health. Thematically, the issue of fear is a dominant feature that affects how an individual approaches day-to-day living and health. Explain the relationship between fear and health identified by the researchers in the article. Do you agree that structural violence perpetuates health disparity?

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Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes

Introduction

We know that social determinants of health, such as income, are important determinants of health outcomes. However, it is also clear that structural violence—including racism and other forms of discrimination—can impede access to resources and make life more difficult for people who already have limited access to food and healthcare. A recent study in the American Journal of Public Health found that immigrants at risk for diabetes were more likely than non-immigrants to report being fearful about health care (76% vs. 46%) and having problems paying medical bills (85% vs. 67%). These findings suggest an intersection between fear and structural violence within immigrant communities.

Overview

In this paper, I will discuss the relationship between structural violence and health disparities among immigrants at risk for diabetes. Structural violence refers to the ways in which social systems can be harmful or detrimental to a person’s well-being (e.g., poverty). In particular, I will focus on how fear can undermine health among immigrants who are at risk for diabetes by affecting their ability to access healthcare services and preventing them from making healthy lifestyle choices.

Methods

This study was conducted at a community health center in South Carolina. The clinic serves primarily low-income, immigrant populations with limited English proficiency.

Results

Our results show that the risk of diabetes was higher among immigrants who were more afraid of deportation. The risk also increased as trust in the U.S. government decreased, regardless of whether or not an individual was undocumented.

These findings are consistent with previous research showing that stressful life events can have a negative impact on health outcomes, including diabetes (1). It’s important to note that this study did not examine why fear and distrust may lead to higher rates of diabetes among immigrants; however, we suspect it has something to do with stress hormones interfering with insulin production or other physiological processes involved in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels

Discussion

As we have seen, fear is a major factor in the health disparities experienced by immigrants at risk for diabetes. Fear can lead to stress and anxiety, which can have negative effects on both mental and physical well-being. In addition to contributing directly to poor health outcomes, structural violence–the systemic barriers that prevent certain groups from accessing resources needed for good health–also contributes indirectly by increasing the likelihood of experiencing fear as well as other negative emotions like anger and frustration.

These findings suggest several policy implications: First, they highlight the need for greater attention on reducing structural violence within our healthcare system so that all patients receive equal treatment regardless of their immigration status or any other factors beyond their control (e.g., race/ethnicity). If we want everyone’s needs met equally at the doctor’s office then we need more programs designed specifically around this issue such as providing translators for non English speakers so there aren’t any language barriers between doctor/patient communication; making sure clinics have bilingual staff members available who can assist patients if needed; encouraging doctors who treat immigrants not only speak English fluently but also understand cultural differences between themselves versus those whom they are treating – this way there isn’t confusion about what type treatments work best depending on where someone comes from originally.”

Limitations

Limitations

The study has several limitations. First, although we were able to recruit a large sample size of immigrants at risk for diabetes and the majority of them were eligible to participate in the study, there was still a small proportion who did not agree to participate either because they refused or missed appointments. This may have led us to underestimate some measures such as health status and depression symptoms, which could be associated with other factors such as age (older age groups had lower participation rates) or personality characteristics (some individuals may have been more willing than others). Second, our results are based on self-reported data collected through interviews; therefore we cannot be certain about their accuracy. Thirdly, it should be noted that our study focused on immigrants from Mexico; therefore generalizations should be done cautiously before applying these findings outside this population group

Conclusion

The study’s main takeaway message is that structural violence can undermine health, especially among immigrants at risk for diabetes. The authors recommend that policymakers address structural violence by creating programs that support immigrants’ well-being and provide them with access to health care.

They also suggest that clinicians should be aware of their patients’ experiences with structural violence and help them cope with the stress it causes by providing referrals to community resources or counseling services, as well as educating patients about how to manage their illness effectively despite environmental challenges.

Takeaway:

The takeaway is that fear and stress are linked to poor health outcomes. Fear and stress can affect your health even if you don’t have a mental disorder, so it’s important to manage them. If you’re experiencing these feelings at high levels, they may be a sign of something more serious than just being stressed out or anxious – like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you to better understand how structural violence can influence health and diabetes. In particular, it may have been difficult to pinpoint the role of fear in preventing immigrants at risk for diabetes from seeking healthcare. Fear is a common emotion that many people experience at some point in their lives, so it’s important to recognize that it doesn’t necessarily mean someone is experiencing trauma or violence—it just means that they are worried about something. The best way to combat fear is by educating yourself about its effects on your health and being open about expressing concerns with others who share them too!