Oral

Low-income immigrant, refugee and minority groups continue to present poorer health status and worse health indicators than whites in the US. Research interventions and policy efforts aimed at eliminating these disparities demand a critical analysis of both the proximal and root causes of health disparities, which have a pervasive effect on migrants and minorities’ current and future health outcomes. Papers in this session present innovative case studies that address the underlying conditions that contribute to health disparities, as well as highlight the potential cultural protective factors that may benefit people’s health. Presenters will discuss the limitations of health insurance and financial barriers to health care, the role of corporate medicine in shaping the demand and use of prescription drugs, the paradoxical role of acculturation among Latinos associated with risk factors (e.g., smoking , high BMI) and protective behaviors (leisure-time physical activity) among others.

Session Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to: Identify the most pervasive roots causes underlying health disparities in the US. Propose two health interventions oriented to reduce and eliminate health disparities among immigrants, refugee and minority populations in the US. Propose two policy initiatives at the local and national levels able to comprehensively address the causes and impact of health disparities from an ecological perspective.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing