Toward a fourth generation of disparities research to achieve health equity

Achieving health equity, driven by the elimination of health disparities, is a goal of Healthy People 2020. In recent decades, the improvement in health status has been remarkable for the U.S. population as a whole. However, racial and ethnic minority populations continue to lag behind whites with a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of public health 2011-01, Vol.32 (1), p.399-416
Main Authors: Thomas, Stephen B, Quinn, Sandra Crouse, Butler, James, Fryer, Craig S, Garza, Mary A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achievement
Family Characteristics
Health Status Disparities
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
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Summary:Achieving health equity, driven by the elimination of health disparities, is a goal of Healthy People 2020. In recent decades, the improvement in health status has been remarkable for the U.S. population as a whole. However, racial and ethnic minority populations continue to lag behind whites with a quality of life diminished by illness from preventable chronic diseases and a life span cut short by premature death. We examine a conceptual framework of three generations of health disparities research to understand (a) data trends, (b) factors driving disparities, and (c) solutions for closing the gap. We propose a new, fourth generation of research grounded in public health critical race praxis, utilizing comprehensive interventions to address race, racism, and structural inequalities and advancing evaluation methods to foster our ability to eliminate disparities. This new generation demands that we address the researcher's own biases as part of the research process.
ISSN:0163-7525
1545-2093
DOI:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031210-101136