Implications for Public Health (original) (raw)

Classification of race and ethnicity: implications for public health

Emerging methods in the measurement of race and ethnicity have important implications for the field of public health. Traditionally, information on race and/or ethnicity has been integral to our understanding of the health issues affecting the U.S. population. We review some of the complexities created by new classification approaches made possible by the inclusion of multiplerace assessment in the U.S. Census and large health surveys. We discuss the importance of these classification decisions in understanding racial/ethnic health and health care access disparities. The trend toward increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the United States will put further pressure on the public health industry to develop consistent and useful approaches to racial/ethnic classifications.

BCHS 2524- Overview of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the US

2006

Understanding health disparities involves a critical analysis of historical, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental conditions that have produced an inequitable health status for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. While we also recognize that disparities exist along socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation and other factors, this class will focus on disparities in racial and ethnic minority communities. Issues of gender, SES and other factors will be examined as they intersect race and ethnicity, and further influence disparities in health. Minority health and health disparities have gained considerable attention from the recent publication of Healthy People 2010 Report, which lists as its two goals: 1) improve the quality of life for all citizens, and 2) eliminate health disparities. The purpose of this class is to introduce basic issues that underlie health disparities. We will gain a better understanding of the relationships of social an...

Racial Categories in Medical Practice: How Useful Are They?

PLoS Medicine, 2007

Racial categories, with shifting meanings and culturally determined parameters, have always shaped medical practice and thinking, leading to vigorous debates about their use in epidemiology, public health, and medical research journals [10-17]. Throughout the 20th century, race had no standard defi nition in medical, epidemiological, or health services research [18-21]. In epidemiology, race vaguely referred to "persons who are relatively homogenous with respect to biologic inheritance" [18]. One survey of medical and epidemiological

The Critical Role of Racial/Ethnic Data Disaggregation for Health Equity

Population Research and Policy Review, 2021

Population-level health outcomes and measures of well-being are often described relative to broad racial/ethnic categories such as White or Caucasian; Black or African American; Latino or Hispanic; Asian American; Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander; or American Indian and Alaska Native. However, the aggregation of data into these groups masks critical within-group differences and disparities, limiting the health and social services fields' abilities to target their resources where most needed. While researchers and policymakers have recognized the importance of disaggregating racial/ethnic data-and many organizations have advocated for it over the years-progress has been slow and disparate. The ongoing lack of racial/ethnic data disaggregation perpetuates existing inequities in access to much-needed resources that can ensure health and well-being. In its efforts to help build a Culture of Health and promote health equity, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has supported activities aimed to advance the meaningful disaggregation of racial/ethnic data-at the collection, analysis, and reporting phases. This special issue presents further evidence for the importance of disaggregation, the technical and policy challenges to creating change in practice, and the implications of improving the use of race and ethnicity data to identify and address gaps in health.

Subjectively-Assigned versus self-reported race and ethnicity in US healthcare

Social Medicine, 2014

Documenting patient "race" descriptors in clinical medicine, epidemiology, and public health data and analysis has been routine in the US. However, patient race has historically been and is still most often subjectively-assigned rather than selfidentified. Even when self-identification is allowed, persons must often self-deny parts of their ancestry by adhering to restrictive race categories. In contrast, most other countries ignore so-called race and may use other ancestral background information including family and geographical histories, language(s) and/or ethnic group(s) membership. We performed two studies involving 160 patients to investigate subjectively-assigned versus selfreported race using a verbal questionnaire in a New Orleans medical clinic. Results revealed that the subjectively-assigned race recorded by the hospital administration/physician was incomplete and therefore inaccurate. Clinicians and researchers must make more accurate and respectful ancestral inquiries in order to derive useful information about individual and population health risks and disease conditions, while also being mindful of potentially erroneous race data previously gathered and conclusions inferred in healthcare literature.

The use of the race/color variable in public health: possibilities and limitations

Interface- …, 2010

This study aimed to discuss the use of the race/color variable as a determining factor of social difference and social exposure to the risk of illness and death. It is a reflection on the present production of the national and international literature in the Public Health and Epidemiology field on this subject. The study examined 47 original and review papers in the period 1990 to 2005. It was observed that international studies have aimed to debate and ground the use of the race/color variable in the health field. In Brazil, the use of this variable in studies about health inequalities is still incipient, but within the few investigations performed, differentials have been evidenced, which instigates the production of further research in this direction. The study of the role of race/color in the production of health differentials could contribute to make policies focusing on reducing health inequalities.

Overview of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the US

2006

Understanding health disparities involves a critical analysis of historical, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental conditions that have produced an inequitable health status for racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. While we also recognize that disparities exist along socio-economic status, gender, sexual orientation and other factors, this class will focus on disparities in racial and ethnic minority communities. Issues of gender, SES and other factors will be examined as they intersect race and ethnicity, and further influence disparities in health. Minority health and health disparities have gained considerable attention from the recent publication of Healthy People 2010 Report, which lists as its two goals: 1) improve the quality of life for all citizens, and 2) eliminate health disparities. The purpose of this class is to introduce basic issues that underlie health disparities. We will gain a better understanding of the relationships of social an...