Racial/Ethnic Variations in Women's Health: The Social Embeddedness of Health
David R. Williams, PhD, MPH
Department of Sociology and Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, PO Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to David R. Williams, PhD, MPH, Department of Sociology and Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, PO Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248 (e-mail: wildavid{at}umich.edu).
This article provides an overview of the magnitude of and trendsin racial/ethnic disparities in health for women in the UnitedStates. It emphasizes the importance of attending to diversityin the health profiles and populations of minority women. Socioeconomicstatus is a central determinant of racial/ethnic disparitiesin health, but several other factors, including medical care,geographic location, migration and acculturation, racism, andexposure to stress and resources also play a role. There isa need for renewed attention to monitoring, understanding, andactively seeking to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in health.
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