Human Genomics: Challenges for African Americans and Policy Implications for Direct Social Work Practice

Recent advancements in the scientific study of the human genome may benefit African Americans through increased knowledge of the causes and cures for diseases that disproportionately affect them. Other potential benefits are far reaching and include legal and socioeconomic importance for the African...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social work in public health 2011-07, Vol.26 (4), p.366-379
Main Author: Walton, Louise M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African American
African Americans
Consumer Advocacy
Disease
Diseases
Environmental aspects
Environmental Factors
Ethnicity
Genetics
genome
Genome, Human
Genomics
Health administration
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Policy - legislation & jurisprudence
Health Status Disparities
Humans
Knowledge
Occupational Roles
policy
Power (Psychology)
Professional Practice - legislation & jurisprudence
Racial Differences
Social Work
Social Workers
United States
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Summary:Recent advancements in the scientific study of the human genome may benefit African Americans through increased knowledge of the causes and cures for diseases that disproportionately affect them. Other potential benefits are far reaching and include legal and socioeconomic importance for the African American community. Although these benefits have tremendous appeal, advancements in genomic science pose significant social issues for African Americans. Disparities in access, insensitive and discriminatory programming, a lack of appreciation of environmental factors, and misuse of genetic databases are among the challenges for African Americans. This article identifies the major benefits and challenges of human genomics cited in literature from various disciplines and discusses policy implications for direct social work practice. The author explains the importance of social work involvement in shaping genetic policies and outlines traditional roles social workers may play in establishing ethnic-sensitive public policies and agency practices to protect the interests of African Americans who interface with the rapidly expanding field of human genomics.
ISSN:1937-1918
1937-190X
DOI:10.1080/19371918.2011.579044