Social epidemiology

People all across the country get diagnosed with disease everyday. Disease do not stereotype of pick who they will strike. Social epidemiology is the study of the distribution of disease. (Schaefer) Many people suffer from diseases, however there are a few groups that have higher risks of obtaining diseases than others.

Studies have shown that diseases are more popular among the poor. This is probably true because the poor often do not have the health care that the wealthy do. Since they do not get the proper medical attention, they are more likely to obtain diseases. Once the disease takes over their body, it is hard for them to get rid of it because they may not know exactly what is wrong with them or how to treat is because they do not have the ability to go see a doctor. Because of this, lower-class people have higher rates of mortality and disability that upper-class people. (Schaefer)Lower-class people are often overlooked when it comes to government health care because the upper and middle class citizens do not want to pay taxes that go toward health care.

Another group that has a high disease rate is ethnic minorities. This is probably true because many ethnic minorities are poor because they migrate to the country and take low income jobs to have an income. Because of this the ethnic minorities get hit double because they are an ethnic minority and they are poor. It may be hard for the to get the health care that they need because they do not speak English, they don't have enough money, or they do not know where to seek medical attention.

For these groups of people, the face many hardships. Once they are in the lower-class it is hard to rise above it. Therefore for most of their life they are disease ridden or ill ridden because they cannot see a physician. It is a sad epidemic in the country, and citizens should do what they can to help the poor get out of their rut.

Catholic Social Teaching tells Christians that they need to base their decisions on how they will affect the poor. They need to stand up and look after the ones that need the most help. The poor often get over looked, and nobody seems to worry about their conditions. Catholic Social Teaching is trying to get citizens to view their poorer classes on the same level as everybody else, and show them the respect that they deserve.

Americans need to look out for the poor and the ethnic minorities. It is hard for them to make it in the world, and it is even hard for them to rise above their poverty. If American citizens help the poor more, they may be able to rise above the social epidemiology.