Minority Populations and Health

Minority Populations and Health is a textbook that offers a complete foundation in the core issues and theoretical frameworks for the development of policy and interventions to address race disparities in health-related outcomes. This book covers U.S. health and social policy, the role of race and ethnicity in health research, social factors contributing to mortality, longevity and life expectancy, quantitative and demographic analysis and access, and utilization of health services.

Praise for Minority Populations and Health

"Dr. LaVeist has written a valuable textbook on one of the most important yet least understood public health issues of our day: racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States. Dr. LaVeist's book is a must-read for anyone concerned about public health and social justice in the United States."
--Harold W. Neighbors, Ph.D., professor, health behavior and health education, director, Center for Research on Ethnicity, Culture and Health, and associate director, Program for Research on Black Americans, University of Michigan School of Public Health

"This introductory text offers a well-written overview of the epidemiology and etiology of health disparities in American ethnic and racial minority populations."
--Martha N. Hill, Ph.D., R.N., dean and professor, The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

"Minority Populations and Health provides a thorough overview of racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care in the United States and thoughtfully highlights some of the key issues and tensions surrounding this important American health crisis."
--Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., M.P.H., senior scientist, Partners-Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Policy, director of multicultural education, Massachusetts General Hospital, and assistant professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School

THE AUTHOR

Thomas A. LaVeist is professor of public health and founding director of the Center for Health Disparities Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Tables and Figures xia

Preface xvii

About the Author xix

1 Historical Aspects of Race/Ethnicity and Health 1

Part One: Crosscutting Issues 13

2 Conceptual Issues in Race/Ethnicity and Health 15

3 The Demography of American Racial/Ethnic Minorities 30

Part Two: Morbidity, Mortality, and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health 51

4 The Epidemiological Profile of Racial/Ethnic Minorities 53

5 Mental Health 83
with Duane Thomas, Ph.D.

6 Health Care Services Among Racial/Ethnic Groups 108

Part Three: Etiology of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Health 131

7 Theories of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Health 133

8 Socioeconomic Status and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Health 157

9 Behavior and Health 180

Part Four: Racial/Ethnic Group-Specific Health Issues 203

10 African American Health Issues 205

11 American Indian and Alaska Native Health Issues 223

12 Asian and Pacific Islander Health Issues 242

13 Hispanic/Latino Health Issues 260

Part Five: Conclusions 281

14 Addressing Disparities in Health and Health Care 283

Appendix A: Case Studies 298

Appendix B: Additional Readings 303

References 308

Name Index 333

Subject Index 339