There are also higher rates of infant mortality and low birth weight, as well as lower rates of immunizations. Violence, especially in minority communities, has become a serious health threat. These minority populations include African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and Caribbean Islanders. The New Jersey State Nurses Association supports the continued work of the Office of Minority Health in the Department of Health for the purpose of collecting data, promoting health, preventing disease and coordinating services for minority groups in New Jersey. The phenomena of concern to nurses are human responses to actual or potential health problems throughout the life continuum.
Nurses focus on caring, coupled with understanding and purpose.
Since the 1950's, Leininger has been espousing to nurses the importance of culturally relevant health care. Advances in social and behavioral science, research and methodology have elucidated relationships among biological, behavioral, and social factors that affect health and illness. The link among these factors is critical to understanding of health, identifying effective strategies for disease prevention, maintaining treatment regimens, and suggesting ways to change behavior for more healthful living habits. Minorities have a double disadvantage when poor. Impoverished families and individuals are forced to choose between the basic necessities of food and shelter or health care.