Intersectional and social epidemiology approaches to understanding the Influence of race, ethnicity, and caste on global public health

2021 ◽  
pp. 469-478
Author(s):  
Jennifer Beard ◽  
Nafisa Halim ◽  
Salma M. Abdalla ◽  
Sandro Galea

Ethnicity, race, caste, sex, and gender are characteristics that can determine social status, health, and illness for both individuals and communities. They are among the many attributes that social epidemiologists account for when conducting research to understand the forces driving health disparities. Intersectional theory posits that each individual comprises multiple, interlocking identities that are projected on to them by the society in which they live. These identities confer multilayered privilege or disadvantage based on context-specific power dynamics, social norms, and biases. Intersectionality is a perspective that grew out of the social justice movements that have shaken entrenched systems of power and social norms over the last 60 years. Intersectional theory challenges traditional epidemiological methods of measuring associations between demographic variables and health outcomes. It also offers social epidemiology an opportunity to explore new methodologies that illuminate factors contributing to health disparities and promote social justice as core research objectives. This chapter illustrates intersections between social determinants and health outcomes in a descriptive case study focused on India and explores innovative methods for incorporating intersectionality into epidemiological research methods and analysis.

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 842-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandria M Delozier ◽  
Rebecca C Kamody ◽  
Scott Rodgers ◽  
Diane Chen

Abstract Objective To present a topical review of minority stressors contributing to psychosocial and physical health disparities in transgender and gender expansive (TGE) adolescents. Methods We conducted a topical review of original research studies focused on distal stressors (e.g., discrimination; victimization; rejection; nonaffirmation), proximal stressors (e.g., expected rejection; identity concealment; internalized transphobia), and resilience factors (e.g., community connectedness; pride; parental support) and mental and physical health outcomes. Results Extant literature suggests that TGE adolescents experience a host of gender minority stressors and are at heightened risk for negative health outcomes; however, limited research has directly applied the gender minority stress framework to the experiences of TGE adolescents. Most research to date has focused on distal minority stressors and single path models to negative health outcomes, which do not account for the complex interplay between chronic minority stress, individual resilience factors, and health outcomes. Research examining proximal stressors and resilience factors is particularly scarce. Conclusions The gender minority stress model is a helpful framework for understanding how minority stressors contribute to health disparities and poor health outcomes among TGE adolescents. Future research should include multiple path models that examine relations between gender minority stressors, resilience factors, and health outcomes in large, nationally representative samples of TGE adolescents. Clinically, adaptations of evidence-based interventions to account for gender minority stressors may increase effectiveness of interventions for TGE adolescents and reduce health disparities in this population of vulnerable youth.


2019 ◽  
pp. 135910531986018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette McClendon ◽  
Ryan Bogdan ◽  
Joshua J Jackson ◽  
Thomas F Oltmanns

We tested whether personality traits help explain the association between discrimination and racial health disparities in a sample of 1033 Black and White older adults. Participants completed measures of discrimination, personality, and self-reported physical and mental health. Elevated discrimination among Black participants was indirectly linked to worse physical and mental health outcomes through elevated neuroticism and lower agreeableness, controlling income, education, and gender. The specific facets of depression, impulsiveness, and trust were the most robust intervening personality factors. Interventions that target cognitive, emotional, and behavioral sequelae of discrimination may lessen its impact on health disparities.


Author(s):  
Molly Jacobs ◽  
Charles Ellis

The existence of disparities in health has gained national attention. While disparities in communication disorders undoubtedly exist, little research has documented these disparities. Disparities may occur across categories such as race/ethnicity, age, sex/gender, geographic, and socioeconomic status. In order to heighten awareness of existing disparities in the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD), this chapter focuses on designing and conducting research to identify and explain disparities among population subgroups. The chapter consists of seven sections: 1) Challenges in Defining Variables for Measuring Health Disparities, 2) Other Data Considerations, 3) Thinking Beyond the Traditionally Measured Sociodemographic Variables, 4) Causal Pathways Between Social Determinants and Health Outcomes, 5) Research Designs, 6) Research Frameworks, and 7) Theories of Contextual Factors. The goal of this chapter is to offer information that assist CSD researchers in systematically identifying, analyzing, and addressing health disparities in CSD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Rodriguez-Seijas ◽  
Eric C. Fields ◽  
Ryan Bottary ◽  
Sarah M. Kark ◽  
Michael R. Goldstein ◽  
...  

Empirical evidence demonstrates mental health disparities between sexual and gender minority individuals (SGM) compared with cisgender heterosexual individuals. SGM individuals report elevated rates of emotional distress, symptoms related to mood and anxiety disorders, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and behavior. Social support is inversely related to psychiatric symptoms, regardless of SGM status. The COVID-19 pandemic—with its associated limited social interactions—represents an unprecedented period of acute distress with potential reductions in accessibility of social support, which might be of particular concern for SGM individuals' mental well-being. In the present study, we explored the extent to which potential changes in mental health outcomes (depressive symptoms, worry, perceived stress, positive and negative affect) throughout the duration of the pandemic were related to differences in perceptions of social support and engagement in virtual social activity, as a function of SGM status. Utilizing a large sample of US adults (N = 1,014; 18% reported SGM status), we assessed psychiatric symptoms, perceptions of social isolation, and amount of time spent socializing virtually at 3 time windows during the pandemic (between March 21 and May 21). Although SGM individuals reported greater levels of depression compared with non-SGM individuals at all 3 time points, there was no interaction between time and SGM status. Across all participants, mental health outcomes improved across time. Perceived social isolation was associated with poorer mental health outcomes. Further, time spent engaging in virtual socialization was associated with reduced depression, but only for those in self-reported quarantine. We discuss these results in terms of the nature of our sample and its impact on the generalizability of these findings to other SGM samples as well as directions for future research aimed at understanding potential health disparities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.


2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Cramer ◽  
Martha Shumway ◽  
Amanda M. Amacker ◽  
Dale E. McNiel ◽  
Sarah Holley ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Judith Herrin

This book explores the exceptional roles that women played in the vibrant cultural and political life of medieval Byzantium. This book evokes the complex and exotic world of Byzantium's women, from empresses and saints to uneducated rural widows. Drawing on a diverse range of sources, the book sheds light on the importance of marriage in imperial statecraft, the tense coexistence of empresses in the imperial court, and the critical relationships of mothers and daughters. It looks at women's interactions with eunuchs, the in-between gender in Byzantine society, and shows how women defended their rights to hold land. The book describes how women controlled their inheritances, participated in urban crowds demanding the dismissal of corrupt officials, followed the processions of holy icons and relics, and marked religious feasts with liturgical celebrations, market activity, and holiday pleasures. The vivid portraits that emerge here reveal how women exerted an unrivalled influence on the patriarchal society of Byzantium, and remained active participants in the many changes that occurred throughout the empire's millennial history. The book brings together the author's finest essays on women and gender written throughout the long span of her career. This volume includes three new essays published here for the very first time and a new general introduction. It also provides a concise introduction to each essay that describes how it came to be written and how it fits into her broader views about women and Byzantium.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-61
Author(s):  
Syaharuddin ◽  
Abdul Adhiim Rizky ◽  
Lutfi Jauhari ◽  
Siti Fatimah ◽  
Wahyu Ningsih ◽  
...  

This research aims to analyse the acceleration of population growth based on gender in West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB) using the Forecasting system by constructing the winter's method in the shape of the Multiple Forecasting System (G-MFS) based on Matlab by calculating the period indicator for accuracy to find time series data in the year 2020-2029. At the simulation stage, researchers used the population and gender ratio data in NTB Province in 2009-2019. The method used in conducting research is to use the winter's method. The evaluation of Forecasting results is done by calculating the average error value using the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) method. From this study obtained the most optimal parameter value on male data namely ʌ, β and γ sequential values of 0.9, 0.5 and 0.9 while in female data, the value of ʌ, β and γ respectively, 0.2, 0.1 and 0.5. Then with the value of the parameter obtained MAPE value in male data of 1.7785% and in female data of 0.89034%.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brodwyn Fischer

There are numerous historical critiques of elitist educational policies in Brazil, as well as studies of the racial and gender dynamics of education, and scholars have routinely lamented the historical lack of access to schooling among the Brazilian poor. But surprisingly few historians have taken on language and education as durable categories of inequality—created, recognized, legitimized, and acted upon over many generations, constitutive elements in Brazil’s constellation of social difference. This is especially remarkable given the rich and repeated emphasis on language, literacy, and education that characterized debates about Brazilian inequality in the century after independence.


Author(s):  
Sridhar Venkatapuram

The term health disparities (also called health inequalities) refers to the differences in health outcomes and related events across individuals and social groups. Social determinants of health, meanwhile, refers to certain types of causes of ill health in individuals, including lack of early infant care and stimulation, lack of safe and secure employment, poor housing conditions, discrimination, lack of self-respect, poor personal relationships, low community cohesion, and income inequality. These social determinants stand in contrast to others, such as individual biology, behaviors, and proximate exposures to harmful agents. This chapter presents some of the revolutionary findings of social epidemiology and the science of social determinants of health, and shows how health disparities and social determinants raise profound questions in public health ethics and social/global justice philosophy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Prehn ◽  
Douglas Ezzy

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander men have the worst health of any group in Australia. Despite this, relevant policies do not specifically explain how the issue will be improved. Existing research demonstrates the complexity of the problems facing Australian Indigenous men. The intersection of masculinity and Indigeneity, compounded by colonisation, historical policies, stigma, marginalisation, trauma, grief and loss of identity are key factors that shape these poor health outcomes. These outcomes are acknowledged in federal and some state government policies but not implemented. The article argues for a holistic and decolonised approach to Australian Aboriginal men’s health. Effective models of intervention to improve men’s health outcomes include men’s health clinics, men’s groups, Men’s Sheds, men’s health camps/bush adventure therapy, fathering groups and mentoring programs. Further research needs to be undertaken, with a greater emphasis on preventative health measures, adequate specific funding, culturally and gender appropriate responses to health, and government policy development and implementation covering Aboriginal male health.


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