Empowerment to reduce health disparities.
This article articulates the theoretical construct of empowerment and its importance for health-enhancing strategies to reduce health disparities. Powerlessness is explored as a risk factor in the context of social determinants, such as poverty, discrimination, workplace hazards, and income inequities. Empowerment is presented and compared with social capital and community capacity as strategies to strengthen social protective factors. A case study of a youth empowerment and policy project in New Mexico illustrates the usefulness of empowerment strategies in both targeting social determinants, such as public policies which are detrimental to youth, and improving community capacities of youth to be advocates for social change. Challenges for future practice and research are articulated.
Wallerstein
Nina
N
Masters in Public Health Program, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131, USA. nwall@unm.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009516:New Mexico; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors