Minority Populations and Health: An Introduction to Health Disparities in the United States

by Thomas A. LaVeist

Overview

"The text is state-of-the-art in its analysis of health disparities from both domestic and international perspectives. Minority Populations and Health: An Introduction to Health Disparities in the United States is a welcome addition to the field because it widens access to the complex issues underlying the health disparities problem. "-- Preventing Chronic Disease/CDC, October 2005

"This is a very comprehensive, evidence-based book dealing with the health disparities that plague the United States. This is a welcome and valuable addition to the field of health care for minority groups in the United States."-- Doody's Publishers Bulletin, August 2005

"Health isn’t color-blind. Racial minorities disproportionately suffer from some diseases, but experts say race alone doesn’t completely account for the disparities. Newsweek's Jennifer Barrett Ozols spoke with Thomas LaVeist, director of the Center for Health Disparities Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and author of the upcoming book, "Minority Populations and Health: An Introduction to Health Disparities in the U.S." (Jossey-Bass) about race and medicine. "-- MSNBC/Newsweek interview with author Thomas L. LaVeist, February 2005

"The book is readable and organized to be quickly read with specifics readily retrievable. It is comprehensive and visual."-- Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2005

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. Instructors material available at http://www.minorityhealth.com

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781118046524
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	03/10/2011
Series:	Public Health/Vulnerable Populations , #4
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	5 MB

About 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.

Table of Contents

Tables and Figures.

Preface.

About the Author.

1. Historical Aspects of Race/Ethnicity and Health.

PART ONE: CROSSCUTTING ISSUES.

2. Conceptual Issues in Race/Ethnicity and Health.

3. The Demography of American Racial/Ethnic Minorities.

PART TWO: MORBIDITY, MORTALITY, AND RACIAL/ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN HEALTH.

4. The Epidemiological Profile of Racial/Ethnic Minorities.

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

6. Health Care Services Among Racial/Ethnic Groups.

PART THREE: ETIOLOGY OF RACIAL/ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH.

7. Theories of Racial/Ethnic Differences in Health.

8. Socioeconomic Status and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Health.

9. Behavior and Health.

PART FOUR: RACIAL/ETHNIC GROUP–SPECIFIC HEALTH ISSUES.

10. African American Health Issues.

11. American Indian and Alaska Native Health Issues.

12. Asian and Pacific Islander Health Issues.

13. Hispanic/Latino Health Issues.

PART FIVE: CONCLUSIONS.

14. Addressing Disparities in Health and Health Care.

Appendix A: Case Studies.

Appendix B: Additional Readings.

References.

Name Index.

Subject Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"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

Editorial Reviews

"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)

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Penny Wolfe Moore, RNC, PhD (Southwestern Adventist University)
Description: This book focuses on the health disparities of minority populations in the United States, using many tables and charts (no color) that illustrate main points very well.
Purpose: The author had taught courses on health inequality for several years but could not find a comprehensive book, so he wrote this especially to meet that classroom need. He meets his objective, and the book is also useful for community health planners and educators.
Audience: It was written with undergraduate and graduate students in mind but a wider audience exists. Community health educators and community developers will find this book very useful. Anyone working on the Healthy People 2010 objectives will need this as a reference.
Features: This book offers a comprehensive discussion of the many factors leading to health disparities related to racial/ethnic issues. The healthcare needs of minority groups are explored with many strategies presented. Theory is linked to research and implications for action are included. Many charts and tables are included that summarize material and give more meaning to research findings.
Assessment: This is a very comprehensive, evidence-based book dealing with the health disparities that plague the United States. The problems are identified and then followed by strategies for action. This is a welcome and valuable addition to the field of healthcare for minority groups in the United States.

Doody's Review Service