Health Disparities in the United States: Social Class, Race, Ethnicity, and the Social Determinants of Health

by Donald A. Barr

Challenging students to think critically about the complex web of social forces that leads to health disparities in the United States. The health care system in the United States has been called the best in the world. Yet wide disparities persist between social groups, and many Americans suffer from poorer health than people in other developed countries. In this revised edition of Health Disparities in the United States , Donald A. Barr provides extensive new data about the ways low socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity interact to create and perpetuate these health disparities. Examining the significance of this gulf for the medical community and society at large, Barr offers potential policy- and physician-based solutions for reducing health inequity in the long term. This thoroughly updated edition focuses on a new challenge the United States last experienced more than half a century ago: successive years of declining life expectancy. Barr addresses the causes of this decline, including what are commonly referred to as "deaths of despair"―from opiate overdose or suicide. Exploring the growing role geography plays in health disparities, Barr asks why people living in rural areas suffer the greatest increases in these deaths. He also analyzes recent changes under the Affordable Care Act and considers the literature on how race and ethnicity affect the way health care providers evaluate and treat patients. As both a physician and a sociologist, Barr is uniquely positioned to offer rigorous medical explanations alongside sociological analysis. An essential text for courses in public health, health policy, and sociology, this compelling book is a vital teaching tool and a comprehensive reference for social science and medical professionals.

Genres: Medicine

376 pages, Paperback

Published August 20, 2019

Reviews

[NCHS Library]

From Follett: What is "health"? how should we define it? how should we measure it? -- Socioeconomic status and health, or, "they call it 'poor health' for a reason" -- Understanding how low social status leads to poor health -- Race, ethnicity, and health -- Race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and health : which is more important in affecting health status? -- Children's health disparities -- All things being equal, does race/ethnicity affect how physicians treat patients? -- Why does race/ethnicity affect the way physicians treat patients? -- When, if ever, is it appropriate to use a patient's race/ethnicity to guide medical decisions? -- What should we do to reduce health disparities?. "With extensive new data . . . illuminates the ways low socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity interact to create and perpetuate health disparities in the United States. This thoroughly updated edition focuses on a new challenge the United States last experienced more than half a century ago: successive years of declining life expectancy. Barr addresses the causes of this decline, including what are commonly referred to as 'deaths of despair'--Opiate overdose or suicide. Exploring the growing role geography plays in health disparities . . . asks why people living in rural areas suffer the greatest increases in these deaths . . . also analyzes recent changes under the Affordable Care Act and considers the literature on how race and ethnicity affect the way health care providers evaluate and treat patients"--Back cover.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for a class on Health Disparities (I had the 2nd ed). It is very informative and has many studies and sources cited, however it is not a dry read, I actually read it in less than a week. I found it inspiring to do better working in health-care and would like to study the subject more.

[Taylor Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

anyone working in health care but most specifically aspiring physicians must read this book

offers a wealth of evidence based information on racial and ethnic disparities in health care in the united states

outstanding work of valuable sociological and medical expertise

[Mackenzie Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for any healthcare professional.