Minority Populations and Health (eBook)

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

"The book is readable and organized to be quickly read with specifics readily retrievable." (JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association), September 14, 2005)

"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