Classification of race and ethnicity: implications for public health.
Emerging methods in the measurement of race and ethnicity have important implications for the field of public health. Traditionally, information on race and/or ethnicity has been integral to our understanding of the health issues affecting the U.S. population. We review some of the complexities created by new classification approaches made possible by the inclusion of multiple-race assessment in the U.S. Census and large health surveys. We discuss the importance of these classification decisions in understanding racial/ethnic health and health care access disparities. The trend toward increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the United States will put further pressure on the public health industry to develop consistent and useful approaches to racial/ethnic classifications.
Mays
Vickie M
VM
Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Box 951563, Los Angeles, California 90095-1563, USA. mays@ucla.edu
Ponce
Ninez A
NA
Washington
Donna L
DL
Cochran
Susan D
SD
D015982:Bias; D019352:Censuses; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000145:classification*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000145:classification*; D014481:United States; D014798:Vital Statistics