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Midwifery and Health Disparities: Theories and Intersections
Author(s) -
Cox Kim J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of midwifery and women's health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1542-2011
pISSN - 1526-9523
DOI - 10.1016/j.jmwh.2008.08.004
Subject(s) - rubric , health equity , inequality , ethnic group , health care , psychological intervention , race (biology) , race and health , health policy , medicine , nursing , psychology , sociology , political science , public health , gender studies , pedagogy , law , mathematical analysis , mathematics
In the past decade, the reduction of health disparities has become an important policy agenda in the United States. Clinicians in practice, however, may be unfamiliar with the prevailing causal theories and uncertain about what they can do to help to reduce inequalities in health. The purpose of this article is to provide women's health care clinicians with an overview of the definitions, measurement issues, and theories that fall under the rubric of health disparities. The intersecting roles of genetics, race/ethnicity, environment, and gender are discussed. The article also provides practical suggestions for interventions and health policy change that can be implemented by clinicians in practice.