HEALTH INEQUITY IN THE UNITED STATES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LIMITATIONS OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN ACCESSING HEALTH SERVICES
by Ana Espinosa
Category: Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract – Latinos are the most populous minority in the United States of America and continue to grow in size, significantly impacting the sociocultural character of their home nation. Notwithstanding, they have faced a significant barrier in accessing healthcare services; the lack thereof has resulted in a pressing healthcare disparity that impacts millions of citizens. A comprehensive literature review was conducted in order to understand the limiting factors to access to health services for Latinos in the United States. (n = 24) Sources were identified and used to analyze inequity and its subsequent impacts. Three main limitations were identified: legislative restraints in health insurance, financial barriers due to lower incomes and employability, and socio-cultural obstacles due to prominent cultural differences compared to other ethnic groups in the United States . The Affordable Care Act has made great strides to close these gaps. Still, there is a critical need to implement inclusive health policies and promote Latino voices in the healthcare industry.