Comment 1#4

The article, “Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes,” explains the fear that certain cultures, as well as immigrants have related to health and diabetic health outcomes (Page-Reeves, Niforatos, Mishra, Regino, Gingrich & Bulten, 2013). Diabetes affects many people and race, ethnicity and minorities are factors related to the increased risk for this disease. This as well as many other factors, such as discrimination, clinical uncertainty, and stereotyping, affect the maintenance of the disease and disparity (Page-Reeves, Niforatos, Mishra, Regino, Gingrich & Bulten, 2013).

There are three dimensions of fear in the article related to health and diabetes. These three fears include cost, language, discrimination, and immigration status, and cultural disconnect. Health issues are tied to certain socioeconomic aspects and low economic status correlates with high uninsured rates, thus making people not go to the doctor. The fear of financial burden associated with an illness such as diabetes makes it hard to get help because they fear the cost of getting help (Page-Reeves, Niforatos, Mishra, Regino, Gingrich & Bulten, 2013). They also stated in the study that they will put their children first and neglect their own health concerns because they would like to pay for food, clothing, bills, and many other things. It was also said that they felt that people with a Spanish accent or someone who lacked English are discriminated against in clinics and hospitals. The fear of these areas makes it so they do not get help with their health, eventually making it worse for them.

Structural violence is a systemic way where social structures harm and disadvantage people (Structural Violence, n.d.). This is said to be violent because it can cause injury. A structural violence framework would take into consideration the extent of how people’s lives are affected by institutionalized inequality, influencing and often governing individual experience (Page-Reeves, Niforatos, Mishra, Regino, Gingrich & Bulten, 2013). The article shows a race that finds many obstacles in getting health care. Structural violence most definitely perpetuates health disparity. However, applying this type of framework to better understand diabetes health disparities in this type of community would help provide insight into the process that produces and encourages disparity (Page-Reeves, Niforatos, Mishra, Regino, Gingrich & Bulten, 2013).

References

Page-Reeves, J., Niforatos, J., Mishra, S., Regino, L., Gingrich, A., & Bulten, J. (2013). Health Disparity and Structural Violence: How Fear Undermines Health Among Immigrants at Risk for Diabetes. Retrieved from eds.b.ebscohost.com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=40982cc1-206c-49d7-bdc3-77194c11b3eb%40sessionmgr101&vid=1&hid=108

Structural Violence. (n.d.). Structural Violence. Retrieved from http://www.structuralviolence.org/structural-violence/