Beyond individual neighborhoods: A geography of opportunity perspective for understanding racial/ethnic health disparities

Theresa L. Osypuk, Dolores Acevedo-Garcia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

134 Scopus citations

Abstract

There has been insufficient attention to how and why place and neighborhood context contribute to racial/ethnic health disparities, as well as to policies that can eliminate racial/ethnic health disparities. This article uses a geography of opportunity framework to highlight methodological issues specific for quantitative research examining neighborhoods and racial/ethnic health disparities, including study design, measurement, causation, interpretation, and implications for policy. We argue that failure to consider regional, racialized housing market processes given high US racial residential segregation may introduce bias, restrict generalizability, and/or limit the policy relevance of study findings. We conclude that policies must address the larger geography of opportunity within the region in addition to improving deprived neighborhoods.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1113-1123
Number of pages11
JournalHealth and Place
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2010

Keywords

  • Bias
  • Health disparities
  • Neighborhood
  • Policy
  • Race/ethnicity

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