CR3 News Magazine 2024 VOL 4: SEPT RADON CHILDREN & SCHOOLS EDITION | Page 43

HEALTH DISPARITIES

1.     Marginalized communities often experience disparities in healthcare access and quality, which may delay diagnosis and treatment of radon-related health issues.

 

3.       Financial Barriers: Economic disparities can prevent individuals in marginalized communities from affording healthcare services, including diagnostic tests for radon exposure or treatment for related health conditions. High out-of-pocket costs or lack of health insurance coverage may deter people from seeking timely medical care.

 

4.       Health Literacy and Awareness: Awareness about radon exposure and its health impacts may be lower in marginalized communities. Limited health literacy and access to educational resources can contribute to delays in recognizing symptoms or understanding the importance of testing for radon.

 

5.       Cultural and Language Barriers: Cultural beliefs and language barriers can pose obstacles to accessing healthcare services. Inadequate interpretation services or culturally insensitive healthcare practices may further deter individuals from seeking timely care for radon-related concerns.

 

6.       Systemic Disparities: Structural inequalities within healthcare systems, including biases in healthcare delivery and resource allocation, can result in unequal treatment outcomes for marginalized populations. This may lead to delayed diagnoses or inadequate management of radon-related health issues.

 

7.       Geographical and Environmental Factors: Marginalized communities may be disproportionately located in areas with higher environmental risks, including higher radon levels in homes. This environmental injustice can exacerbate health disparities related to radon exposure.

HEALTH

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AAFA’s Asthma Disparities in America  report examines how asthma affects Black, Hispanic and Indigenous populations in the United States. This report is an update to AAFA’s 2005 report on asthma disparities.

Over the past 15 years, there have been moderate advances in U.S. public policy, health care and research, but racial gaps in asthma outcomes have not changed. Minority groups continue to bear disproportionate hardship in managing asthma.

The report reviews the current state of asthma disparities and serves as a national call to action to fix the social inequities caused by structural racism that continue to plague vulnerable, at-risk patients and families with asthma.

AAFA remains committed to taking bold actions to facilitate significant improvement and building collaboration with federal, state and non-governmental entities and individuals who share the similar goal to save lives and reduce the harm and unequal burden of asthma on underserved groups.

https://aafa.org/asthma-allergy-research/our-research/asthma-disparities-burden-on-minorities

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DISPARITIES

2.       Limited Access to Healthcare Facilities: Marginalized communities may have fewer healthcare facilities, clinics, or hospitals within close proximity. This lack of access can make it challenging for residents to seek medical attention promptly, including for radon-related symptoms or screenings.

 

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