Race Ethnicity and Health Flashcards

1
Q

What is race?

A

Race is biologically determined difference in genetic and physical characteristics e.g. skin colour, facial characteristics -which also reflect cultural differences, separating one group from another.

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2
Q

what is racism?

A

Racism, in general terms, consists of conduct or words or practices which disadvantage or advantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin

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3
Q

what is ethnicity?

A

Cultural values and norms which distinguish the members of a given group from others

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4
Q

What are some problems with concept of ethnicity?

A

Conceptualisations of ethnicity can become too static – assume that everyone in an ethnic group shares the same characteristics – can lead to cultural stereotyping

Ethnicity is dynamic, evolving and changing over time - Fluidity and fusion of different ethnic cultures

You have different cultures within broad ethnic categories

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5
Q

What is an ethnic minority:

A

a category of people distinguished by physical or cultural traits, who are socially disadvantaged

Ethnic minority groups are disadvantaged as a whole in comparison to the white population in a range of different areas:
Housing
Employment and earnings 
Education
Health
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6
Q

People who are ethnic minorities tend to ….

A

Less likely to be in executive or non-executive directorship

Higher rates of unemployment

Muslims experienced highest unemployment rates, lowest employment rates and lowest hourly pay rates

Poverty rates higher for children in households headed by someone from an ethnic minority

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7
Q

Certain ethnic groups are effected by health a lot more –>

A

Heart disease
Higher incidence of heart disease for men and women from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Irish backgrounds
Lower mortality rates for coronary heart disease for men born in the Caribbean and those born in West/South Africa

Stroke and high blood pressure
Increased number of deaths from strokes for men born in the Caribbean and South and West African countries, India and Ireland
Higher rates of high blood pressure for people born in African and Caribbean countries

Respiratory disease and lung cancer
Higher rates of both respiratory disease and lung cancer for people from Ireland.
Lower rates for lung cancer and bronchitis for people born in India

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8
Q

What are the 6 MODELS OF EXPLANATION for racial and ethnic patterns of health?

A

Biological factors – e.g. genetic variations

Migration – e.g. the experience of migration may be stressful and damaging to health

Socio-economic factors e.g. occupational class, income, housing tenure

Culture, beliefs and behaviour – e.g. diet, exercise, smoking, uptake of screening practices

Racism and discrimination

Health service access and use

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9
Q

What are the biological factors of ethnic patterns of health?

A

Biological factors such as genetic variations are sometimes cited as the reasons for differences in the prevalence of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.

Genetic factors and other physiological characteristics are interwoven with and shaped by social and environmental factors. E.g. low birthweight strongly influenced by mother’s material circumstances and associated with some chronic conditions in adult life

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10
Q

What are the migration factors of ethnic patterns of health?

A

Factors associated with the period immediately surrounding migration

Carry health “footprint” of country of origin
Healthier sub-group of origin population
Social migratory process – hardship, persecution
Culture, lifestyle, support network
Acculturation

Stress of various kinds

–> Doesn’t explain health differentials in the long term and in second generation migrants

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11
Q

What are the socio-economic factors of ethnic patterns of health?

A

Migrant and minority ethnic (MME) groups experience socio-economic disadvantage

–> Higher levels of unemployment for longer periods of time, deprivation etc

Socio-economic disadvantage compromises health status

Socio-economic factors a stronger determinant of health differentials than ‘race’ or ethnicity

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12
Q

What are the socio-economic factors of ethnic patterns of health?

A

Suggests that (un)healthy lifestyles or behaviours based on cultural or religious beliefs may account for health inequalities.

Criticised for victim blaming, stereotyping, overlooking diversity of socially produced categories (e.g.‘South Asians’) and ignoring socio-economic context.

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13
Q

What are the three types of racism?

A

Prejudice
Discrimination
Institutional Racism

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14
Q

Institutional Racism explained

A

Institutions (e.g. police, health service, education system) intentionally or unintentionally promote policies that favour certain groups and discriminate against others

The murder of Stephen Lawrence

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15
Q

New Racism

A

New racism (or cultural racism) uses the idea of cultural differences to exclude certain groups
Religious and cultural practices
Rise of ‘Islamophobia’ and Antisemitism
Also “Europhobia”

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16
Q

Racism and Health –>

A

Socioeconomic disadvantage through racism and discrimination could have a debilitating (indirect) effect on health

17
Q

What are the health service use factors of ethnic patterns of health?

A

Inequality in access – e.g. Inverse Care Law
Negative experiences of care and inequalities in care:

Direct racism - health worker treats a person less favourably because of their ethnicity.

Indirect or institutional racism - services favour particular groups at the expense of others.

Ethnocentrism - inappropriate assumptions about the needs of people from minority ethnic groups on the basis of the majority experience

18
Q

Summary of lecture

A

The concept of ‘race’ lacks any scientific validity
Ethnicity can be a useful way of exploring different groups of people with its emphasis on the social and cultural aspects of people’s lives
This categorisation also brought into question in the context of super-diverse societies
Racism can be a defining experience for many ethnic minority people
Class, socio-economic differences, racism and negative experiences of health care can affect the health of ethnic minority groups.
A multitude of interrelated factors result in ethnic health inequalities rather than one single reason

19
Q

Define and distinguish between the terms race and ethnicity and discuss some problems with these concepts.

Explain what is meant by the term ‘ethnic minorities’.

Identify and briefly explain two ways in which people from ethnic minority groups are disadvantaged within the UK.

Identify two differences in the health of minority ethnic groups compared to white people.

Discuss three explanations for the differences in health on the basis of ethnicity.

A

ANSWER THEM ALL