ASRC 4208 - Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

(SBA-AS)

Fall. 4 credits.

S. Notaro.

This course will be organized into four broad areas. First, it examines concepts of race and ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status as they intersect to influence health disparities and inequalities in the health of residents of the United States. These concepts will be discussed from multiple perspectives including lifespan developmental psychology and public health. Second, the course will explore theories of the causes of health disparities, including social and environmental factors (e.g., racial/ethnic and gender discrimination, deprivation of resources, inadequate access to health care), psychosocial or behavioral factors (e.g., immigration and acculturation), and biological processes (e.g., biogenetic-environment interactions). Access to health care will be explored by comparing the current health care system in the United States (e.g., Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) to health care systems globally. Third, it will focus on selected health disparities in mortality and morbidity within the United States. Special emphasis will be placed on health disparities throughout the lifespan (e.g., cancer, infant mortality, environmental quality, and access to health care). Fourth, the course will examine ways to address disparities in health throughout the life span using various points of intervention (e.g., improving the physical environment, social and economic conditions, and access to quality health care and social services, as well as reducing barriers to a healthy lifestyle).