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Kathy Sanders-Phillips, PhD, School of Medicine, Howard University, 2900 Van Ness Avenue, Holy Cross Hall, Washington, DC 20008, 202-806-8614, ksandersphillips@aol.com
Although the number of studies of health disparities has increased dramatically, relatively few theoretical models of the etiology of health disparities have been developed and tested. This is particularly true in the field of substance use and abuse where ethnic differences in use and the consequences of drug use tend to emerge over time and are most evident in adulthood. Based on studies conducted at the DC/Baltimore Center to Reduce Child Health Disparities, which is a research partnership between Howard University and Children’s National Medical Center, this presentation will focus on a conceptual model of health disparities that is based on ecological theory, emphasizes the influence of environmental factors on health, and illustrates the role of a powerfully interrelated set of factors across the biopsychosocial continuum in precipitating health disparities. These factors include both medical and non-medical factors as well as systemic and social variables. The model rejects a simple consideration of “race” or “ethnicity” as the “cause” of any health outcome. Rather it draws attention to the mechanisms by which race and ethnicity impact health decisions and behaviors, and underscores the need to identify, model, and develop interventions that focus on those processes that contribute to between and within group variability in risk and resiliency in health outcomes. The presentation will identify and discuss current studies based on this model and provide empirical data supporting the conceptual model.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Disparities, Drug Abuse
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.