Barriers to Healthcare in the Deaf Population

There are many barriers to health care that are faced by much of the population for different reasons, whether it be race, gender, sexual lifestyle, culture, socioeconomic status, etc. Inequities in health care have become a great area of concern for public health professionals, clinicians, and communities. Many of these populations have been studied or are currently being studied to find ways to allow these populations more equal access to health care resources. However, one population that has not been significantly studied is the deaf population. Deaf sign-language users are particularly affected in regard to health literacy and their views on the importance of early chronic disease screenings and preventative care. This population struggles to understand the importance of visiting their healthcare providers for preventative care such as mammograms, pap smears, annual screening exams, diabetic care, and general healthcare maintenance