Barriers to Healthcare Seeking and Provision among African American Adults in the rural M.S. Delta Region: Community and Provider Perspectives
The journal article examines the challenges facing African Americans with regard to access to quality care in the Delta region in Mississippi. In the article, Connell et al. (2019) focus on the barriers that hinder the provision and seeking healthcare services in the rural areas of the delta region. In the data collection process, Connell et al. (2019) used samples from healthcare providers, members of the community, and Community Health Advisors (CHAs). For instance, the researchers used a sample of 40 females and 20 males from the community. Healthcare practitioners interviewed were those certified by the federal government working in local, state, and federal government. Based on the results from the information shared by the samples, Connell et al. (2019) found out that there are two main barriers to seeking and provision of healthcare services in the Delta region; environmental and interpersonal. Under these two categories, there were subthemes such as poverty, racism, insurance restriction, rural setting, and fear. Additionally, the article found that the community was low in disease prevention and reluctant to seek healthcare services.
This article is of high quality and relevant because it is written by experts in the field of healthcare and community welfare. Additionally, the information is authentic because Hinds Community College spearheaded it. The information presented is well balanced and provides background information on the major cause of the challenge affecting the African American community in the Delta region. The information presented in the article is backed by literature from previous research studies and data from federal and state agencies. In the data collection process, Connell et al. (2019) collected information from three different samples, community members, healthcare practitioners and community advisors, to get divergent views. Additionally, the researchers describe and analyze each barrier seperately to provide a clear understanding of each.
The article is good for research because it touches on the problem of healthcare disparity in the United States. Although the U.S. government has made considerable strides with regard to addressing inequality in healthcare, it is a challenge that has continued to persist. The African Americans have been the most affected by health inequality, whereby they have lagged with regard to accessing quality healthcare services. Measures such as the Affordable Care Act played a vital role in reducing the racial gap in access to quality healthcare. Therefore, by focusing on a single region, the journal article provides a basis for identifying unique needs facing African Americans based on the region.
Based on this understanding, this journal article is ideal for a research study that examines the challenges of accessing quality care among minority groups in the U.S. The article can add to the research that can help understand the problems facing African Americans and minority groups in the U.S. African Americans have had a long history of oppression under the social system geared towards the white majority. Despite the different measures put in place, African Americans and minorities, in general, have fully overcome their healthcare challenges. In this regard, finding made by Connell et al. (2019) can come in handy in helping to devise strategies for addressing the healthcare barriers facing African Americans. The article can provide a good foundation for a research study for understanding the healthcare barriers affecting African America in the Delta region and the U. S in general.
