"Disease-breeders" among us: deconstructing race and ethnicity as risk factors of immigrant ill health.
Race and ethnicity are well-established epidemiological categories that relate to the patients' risk of exposure and their susceptibility/resistance to disease. However, this association creates the notion that factors other than a personal identity need not be held responsible for patients' health problems. This work deconstructs the notion of race and ethnicity as risk factors for immigrant ill health, which is prevalent in current medical research and practice, by tracing its roots in Canadian history. The understanding that medical knowledge is subject to diverse historical, social, cultural and political influences can change the way health professionals perceive their patients as a health threat.
Reitmanova
Sylvia
S
Division of Community Health & Humanities, Health Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL A1B3V6, Canada. sreitman@mun.ca
D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009523:Newfoundland and Labrador; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors