Preface

ix

1

Introduction to the Social Roots of Health Disparities

1

2

What is “Health”? How should We Define It? How should We Measure It?

14

3

The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Health, Or, “They Call it ‘Poor Health’ for a Reason”

42

4

Understanding How Low Social Status Leads to Poor Health

73

5

Race, Ethnicity, and Health

105

6

Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Health: Which is More Important in Affecting Health Status?

134

7

All Things being Equal, Does Race/Ethnicity Affect How Physicians Treat Patients?

169

8

Why Does Race/Ethnicity Affect the Way Physicians Treat Patients?

200

9

When, if Ever, is it Appropriate to Use a Patient’s Race/Ethnicity to Guide Medical Decisions?

228

10

What should We do to Reduce Health Disparities?

247

References

273

Index

291