OMH Celebrates National Minority Health Month with Better Health Through Better Understanding Campaign – Did you know that diverse people experience barriers when it comes to their health, leading to less health literacy? (Do you know what health literacy is? You might not: It’s been found only 14% of people have been found to have proficient health literacy!) Learn more about health literacy, why it’s important to you, and how OMH is protecting your rights to proficient health literacy right here on Newsymom!
This informational campaign comes to you in partnership with the Stark County Community Action Agency.
Every April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) observes National Minority Health Month to highlight the importance of improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities and reducing health disparities. This year’s theme for National Minority Health Month 2023 is Better Health Through Better Understanding and focuses on improving health outcomes for racial and ethnic minority and AI/AN communities by providing them with culturally and linguistically competent healthcare services, information, and resources.
When patients are provided with culturally and linguistically appropriate information, they are empowered to create healthier outcomes for themselves and their communities.
Better Health Through Better Understanding Highlights
The theme this year accomplishes the goal of spreading awareness for:
- Increased health literacy for patients
- Providing culturally competent care for diverse populations
- Improving access to health care information for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP)
You can help spread awareness by visiting their page, accessing resources, and sharing info on social media! National Minority Health Month – Graphics & Social Media
Let’s dial it back some. What’s health literacy and why is it important to me?
When we talk about health literacy, we mean being able to find, understand, and use information and services to make informed health-related decisions and actions for yourself.
For instance, according to the above stats in the image, there’s a huge possibility that we have Americans who speak Spanish as their first language, meaning they might have difficulty understanding English. If they were to go to a provider who doesn’t speak Spanish, their health literacy odds just dropped drastically! They likely won’t be able to understand the full scope of what their provider is telling them to make the best healthcare decisions. Lower health literacy can cause health disparities!
What Are Health Disparities?
Health disparities are completely preventable circumstances that affect the health of an individual because of social statuses such as income, ethnicity, education, age, and gender.
The health disparities caused by those social factors are:
- Life expectancy
- Mortality
- Burden of disease
- Mental health
- Uninsured or underinsured
- Lack of access to care
We can help prevent health disparities by ensuring everyone has a fair chance when looking for a provider, providing the means for education to help individuals make informed decisions, and eliminating barriers to great healthcare!
Support OMH this month and boost your own health literacy! Do you know and understand everything that’s going on in your body?
To help the health literacy of new and pregnant mothers, the SCCAA Community Actions Pathway HUB is a fantastic program to boost your health (physical and mental) in a variety of ways. They’ve got the education, resources, and support to help you in the following ways:
- Get a ride to an appointment
- Supply you with items you need for your baby, including diapers or a crib
- Help with your other children
- Get a doctor’s care
- And more!
For more information, please contact the SCCAA Community Actions Pathway HUB at (330) 454-1676 ext. 153.
Melissa Klatt
Reporting
