Taking action to advance the study of race and ethnicity: the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

ABSTRACT: "Race" and "ethnicity" are socially constructed terms, not based on biology - in contrast to biologic ancestry and genetic admixture - and are flexible, contested, and unstable concepts, often driven by power. Although individuals may self-identify with a given race and ethnic group, as multidimensional beings exposed to differential life influencing factors that contribute to disease risk, additional social determinants of health (SDOH) should be explored to understand the relationship of race or ethnicity to health. Potential health effects of structural racism, defined as "the structures, policies, practices, and norms resulting in differential access to goods, services, and opportunities of society by "race," have been largely ignored in medical research. The Women's Health Initiative

SUBMITTER: Garcia L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8724230 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature