BHS 201 Health Disparities in the U.S. in the 21st Century

3 Credit(s) CS

The United States spends the most money on healthcare of any nation in the world. However, the healthcare in this country is marked by deep disparities. One measure of health disparities is the average length of human life in a country. When compared with all other nations in the world, the United States, in fact, ranks 19th in longevity. Why have systems and social structures failed to sustain health, life, and longevity for so many people? This course will focus on many determinants that impact health including race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, sexual orientation, education levels, language, and geographic location. Students will determine their own potential for health and longevity as they explore their own identity utilizing intersectionality theory. Students will use reliable health data that will demonstrate inequality of health and lack of preventive intervention into chronic disease. The knowledge from this course lays the foundation to deepen understanding, enhances individuals’ capacity and foster motivation to challenge and to change structures of our society. Lack of power and lack of money place individuals at risk of serious illness and early death. Bias, ignorance, racism, and injustice impact not only the psyche and soul of human beings, but also ravage bodies, diminish quality of life, and shorten life spans. Models of health promotion, early childhood intervention and health equity including the affordable care act philosophy and tenets will be examined as hopeful models that have begun to reduce the health gap. Students will develop the insight and agency to, one day play asignificant role in reducing health disparities. Three lecture hours per week.