In order to better understand the needs of Deaf people whose primary communication is American Sign Language; this study surveyed a nationwide sample of Deaf adults. Much of the research relating to the Deaf community has been based on the responses and experiences of professionals and providers, such as those of doctors, counselors, and American Sign Language interpreters. The amount of literature and research based on the lived experiences of Deaf individuals is strikingly lacking. Upon a review of existing literature, one of the prevalent themes is that individuals within the Deaf population, which includes 10% of society, are three times as likely to experience mental illness, addiction, and domestic violence (Bones, 2016). Healthcare access and communication barriers need to be addressed directly, and not solely through the employment of professional interpreters (Phillips, 1996). Many of the responses of this recent study echo the same sentiment and hope that in the future, more direct providers will become proficient in American Sign Language, and privacy may then be maintained through person to person interaction.

Racial disparities in healthcare are significantly prevalent to society as they put the lives of many mothers and their babies at increased risk for all types of health complications. It is important to note that while health disparities exist across the US healthcare system, pregnant mothers of color are particularly impacted by the lack of quality prenatal care they receive. This further impacts their own health and the health of their babies. Researchers have looked at factors that prevent mothers from receiving prenatal care, but often the blame is put on the mothers for factors like not feeling confident, fear of discrimination, decreased timeliness in initiation of prenatal care, etc. However, there is a gap in the literature that addresses how mothers of color feel about their place in the US healthcare system, particularly how the healthcare system does not allow them to receive equitable prenatal care. With this research study, we seek to gain insight on the experiences of mothers from Black and Hispanic backgrounds in regard to their prenatal care in US primary and secondary care settings, and how those experiences affected their own and their child’s outcomes. The researchers will compare the experiences of Black and Hispanic with White women. We will evaluate these experiences to discover where the source of inequitable prenatal care lies in an effort to create changes within a broader system.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Breast Cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) gene mutations can increase an individual's risk of breast and or ovarian cancer. Women that test positive for either BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene mutations have a 60 to 70 percent lifetime risk of breast cancer. However, there are a plethora of researchers who found that many racial and ethnic minorities that include: African Americans, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islanders, have a higher risk of breast cancer mortality and late-stage diagnosis than non-Hispanic Caucasian women in America. This study focused research on the racial and ethnic minorities in BRCA testing. Data and policy comparative analysis assessed social factors and social determinants of health in policy guideline's impact in BRCA testing disparities in America.