Question.895 - Week 10-Discussion 1 Discuss changes that could be made to the structure of our society that would improve health for everyone by addressing the following. How are common illnesses the product of social factors, in addition to medical factors? What factors contribute to the disparities in health among ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender groups in the United States? Finally, consider whether the United States should move toward a national health insurance model found in other Western nations? Many critics of medicalization claim that medicalizing women’s health issues is a form institutional sexism. As described in our text, medicalization is the process where previously normal aspects of life are redefined as deviant and needing medical attention to remedy. Discuss the medicalization of women’s health issues and address whether medicalizing issues like menstruation, pre-menstrual syndrome, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause amounts to institutional sexism.
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Laureen CollazoWeek 10-Discussion 1 Discuss changes that could be made to the structure of our society that would improve health for everyone by addressing the following. How are common illnesses the product of social factors, in addition to medical factors? What factors contribute to the disparities in health among ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender groups in the United States? Finally, consider whether the United States should move toward a national health insurance model found in other Western nations? Social factors such as poverty, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthy food, clean water, and safe neighborhoods are known to significantly impact health outcomes. For instance, people who live in substandard housing are more prone to develop respiratory illnesses like asthma. In contrast, those who live in areas with inadequate access to healthy food may have a higher risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease (World Health Organization, 2017). Black Americans are observed to have a higher incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease compared to White Americans (Williams & Cooper, 2020). Health disparities among ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender groups in the US are also linked to various factors. One major contributing factor is access to healthcare. It has been observed that uninsured adults in the United States are more likely to forgo necessary medical care due to cost than those with private insurance coverage (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2021). This can lead to untreated or undiagnosed illnesses, exacerbating health disparities. Another factor contributing to health disparities is social determinants of health, like income and education levels. People with low income and education are likelier to have poor health outcomes than those with higher income and education levels. Similarly, people who are unemployed or who lack social support are more likely to have poor health outcomes (Healthy People 2020, 2014). To address disparities and improve health outcomes for everyone, changes should be made to the structure of our society. One solution is to move towards a national health insurance model, as seen in other Western nations like Canada and the UK. This would ensure that everyone has access to essential healthcare services, regardless of their ability to pay. A study conducted by the Commonwealth Fund found that countries with universal health coverage models generally have better health outcomes than countries without such models (The Commonwealth Fund, 2020). In addition to a national health insurance model, other changes could be made to address social determinants of health. For instance, investments could be made in affordable housing, clean water infrastructure, and healthy food programs in low-income communities. Education and employment opportunities could also be expanded to reduce poverty and improve health outcomes (Healthy People 2020, 2014). Many critics of medicalization claim that medicalizing women’s health issues is a form institutional sexism. As described in our text, medicalization is the process where previously normal aspects of life are redefined as deviant and needing medical attention to remedy. Discuss the medicalization of women’s health issues and address whether medicalizing issues like menstruation, pre-menstrual syndrome, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause amounts to institutional sexism. Medicalization is the process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical issues. In the case of women's health, it refers to the tendency of medical professionals to pathologize certain aspects of women's lives, such as menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. While medicalization has led to critical medical advancements and treatments for women, it has also been criticized for perpetuating institutional sexism. One way medicalization of women's health issues can be seen as institutional sexism is by overemphasizing biological factors while ignoring social, cultural, and environmental factors contributing to women's health problems. For example, menstrual disorders are often treated as purely biological problems rather than considering the social and cultural factors that affect menstruation. Medicalization of women's health issues promotes the idea that women's health problems are individual rather than social and cultural issues, leading to the marginalization of women's health concerns in the healthcare system (Emilie Brantelid et al., 2014). Another issue with the medicalization of women's health is the tendency to over-pathologize regular physiological changes that occur during women's reproductive lives. For example, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common condition among menstruating women. However, it has been medicalized, with women being told that their symptoms are abnormal and require medical intervention (Lorraine et al., 2011). Similarly, menopause has been medicalized as a deficiency disease requiring treatment rather than a natural process (Antonia C & Griffin, 2003). This overpathologization of normal processes has been criticized for perpetuating gender stereotypes and creating unnecessary anxiety and medicalization for women. References: Antonia C, L., & Griffin, C. (2003, April). Managing menopause: A qualitative analysis of self-help literature for women at midlife. Social science & medicine (1982). Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12639580/ Emilie Brantelid, I., Nilvér, H., & Alehagen, S. (2014, January 30). Menstruation during a lifespan: A qualitative study of women's experiences. Health care for women international. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24313552/ Healthy People 2020. (2014). Social determinants of health. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-healthKaiser Family Foundation. (2021). Key facts about the uninsured population. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/uninsured/fact-sheet/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/Lorraine, D., Lehert, P., & Heinemann, K. (2011, September 17). Global study of women's experiences of premenstrual symptoms and their effects on daily life. Menopause international. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21903712/ The Commonwealth Fund. (2020). International comparisons of health system performance: A focus on quality and costs. Retrieved from https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2020/jan/international-comparisons-health-system-performance-2020Williams, D. R., & Cooper, L. A. (2020). COVID-19 and health equity—a new kind of “herd immunity”. 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