This Week We Are Learning About Social Stratification And In

This week we are learning about social stratification and inequalities

In this assignment, you will explore the impact of social stratification and inequalities on health outcomes. You will select a specific health issue such as life expectancy, infectious disease risk, degenerative disease risk, hunger and food access, or infant mortality. Then, you will explain what stratification is and discuss how this health issue is connected to social inequalities. Finally, you will practice applying this knowledge by explaining to a future patient or family member why understanding the connections between stratification and health is important in your role as a nurse working with diverse and multicultural populations.

Paper For Above instruction

Health disparities and social stratification are critical factors influencing health outcomes across different populations. As a future nurse, understanding these interconnected elements enhances culturally competent care and fosters more equitable health interventions. For this paper, I have chosen to focus on infant mortality, a significant health issue reflecting broader social inequalities and stratification.

Section 1: Health Issue

Infant mortality, defined as the death of a child before his or her first birthday, is a stark indicator of a society’s overall health and well-being. This health issue was chosen because it encapsulates the profound impact of social determinants on health outcomes. Infant mortality rates vary significantly across different racial, socioeconomic, and geographic groups, highlighting disparities rooted in social inequities. For example, in the United States, African American infants experience mortality rates more than twice as high as those of white infants (Mathews et al., 2017). Such disparities are influenced by factors like access to quality prenatal care, socioeconomic status, education, environmental exposures, and healthcare services, making infant mortality a compelling indicator of social stratification's role in health.

Section 2: Stratification and Health

Social stratification refers to the systematic ranking of individuals and groups in society based on factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and other social determinants. This hierarchy influences access to resources like education, employment, housing, and healthcare, which collectively shape health outcomes. In the context of infant mortality, stratification manifests in disparities where impoverished and marginalized groups often lack access to quality prenatal and neonatal care, nutritious food, safe housing, and health education. These inequities limit their ability to prevent adverse health outcomes, contributing to higher infant mortality rates in these populations. Research demonstrates that social determinants of health explain a large proportion of health disparities observed in infant mortality, underscoring how stratification perpetuates health inequalities (Braveman et al., 2010).

Section 3: Application to Nursing

As a future nurse, understanding the link between social stratification and health is vital for delivering equitable care to diverse patient populations. Explaining this connection to a patient or family member involves highlighting how social factors influence health outcomes. For example, I might explain that disparities in infant mortality are not merely due to individual choices but are deeply rooted in broader societal inequalities such as socioeconomic status, race, and access to healthcare services. By recognizing these social determinants, I can advocate for targeted interventions, such as ensuring access to prenatal care, providing health education, and connecting families with community resources. This understanding fosters cultural humility and helps build trust, enabling me to support vulnerable populations more effectively. Ultimately, integrating knowledge of social stratification into nursing practice enhances efforts to reduce health disparities and promote health equity across all communities.

References

• Braveman, P., Egerter, S., & Williams, D. R. (2010). The social determinants of health: coming of age. Annual Review of Public Health, 32, 381-398.
• Mathews, T. J., MacDorman, M. F., Thoma, M. E., et al. (2017). Infant mortality in the United States, 2017: Data and trends. NCHS Data Brief, No. 330.
• Kendall, D. E. (2021). Sociology in our times: The essentials (12th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2009). Discrimination and racial disparities in health: Evidence and needed research. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(1), 20-47.
• Graham, S. (2003). Social determinants and the health of children. Pediatrics, 112(Supplement 3), 642-655.
• Bird, P. S. (2003). Social determinants of infant mortality among different racial and ethnic groups. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 14(4), 516-526.
• Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2020). Social determinants of health. Healthy People 2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-health
• Shahid, S., & Mustafa, M. (2017). Social determinants of health and health disparities: An overview. Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research, 11(4), IE01-IE04.
• Cunningham, S. & Sood, A. (2018). Health disparities and social determinants of health: The role of nurses. Nursing Outlook, 66(3), 263-269.
• Smedley, B. D., Stith, A. Y., & Nelson, A. R. (Eds.). (2003). Unequal treatment: Confronting racial and ethnic disparities in health care. National Academies Press.