Prejudice with different ratio groups

Prejudice with different ratio groups



Prejudice with different ratio groups

Prejudice is both an attitude and a cognitive process, the identifiable and measurable outcome of which is the practice of discrimination. A standardized definition of discrimination does not exist. Even within the framework of the law definitions vary: some jurisdictions focus on intent and others on effect.For the purposes of health care, the Institute of Medicine defines it as “differences in the quality of healthcare that are not due to access-related factors or clinical needs, preferences, and appropriateness of intervention.” It identified discriminatory health care practices on 2 levels: the health care structure (systemic discrimination) and discrimination that results from “biases, prejudices, stereotyping, and uncertainty in clinical communication.”

Many American studies have demonstrated that minorities in the United States receive lower quality health services and are less likely to receive medical procedures than white Americans are. Disparities in access and quality of care exist even when income and sociodemographic factors are controlled. African Americans, for example, are less likely than whites to receive surgery for early stage lung, colon, or breast cancer. A study by Laditka et al of delivery outcomes in South Carolina (N = 26 866) revealed substantially higher rates of “potentially avoidable delivery complications” in African Americans and Hispanic Americans compared with whites, even when health care insurance was controlled. Similarly, a study by Chung et al of deliveries in Long Beach, Fla, (N = 37 688) found that blacks and Hispanics were 75% and 22% more likely to undergo cesarean deliveries, respectively.

Despite Canada's universal health care system, health disparities on the basis of race and immigrant status persist. A handful of Canadian studies have found that aboriginal and foreign-born Canadians face barriers to access. There is ample discussion around these barriers, as well as the ...