Journal Article

Racial and Spatial Relations as Fundamental Determinants of Health in Detroit

Lempert, Lora Bex, Israel, Barbara A., Schulz, Amy J., Williams, David R.

2002

Overview

African Americans in the United States have a higher than average risk of morbidity and mortality, despite declining mortality rates for many causes of death for the general population. This article examines race-based residential segregation as a fundamental cause of racial disparities, shaping differences in exposure to, and experiences of, diseases and risk factors. The spatial distribution of racial groups, specifically the residential segregation of African Americans in aging urban areas, contributes to disparities in health by influencing access to economic, social, and physical resources essential to health. Using the Detroit metropolitan area as a case study, this article looks at the influences of the distribution of African American and white residents on access to these resources and discusses the implications for urban policies to reduce racial disparities in health status.

• Publisher: Blackwell Publishing, Inc,Blackwell Publishers,Blackwell,Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subject: Access / African Americans / Aging / Black American people / Black communities / Black White Differences / Black white relations / Blacks / Case studies / Census tracts / Cities / Detroit / Detroit, Michigan / Economic resources / Health / Health Care Utilization / Health disparities / Health inequalities / Health Problems / Health services / Health Services Accessibility / Health status / Health Status Indicators / Housing / Humans / Ideology / Metropolitan areas / Michigan / Michigan - epidemiology / Minority & ethnic groups / Morbidity / Mortality / Mortality Rates / Neighborhoods / Original / Policy studies / Poverty / Poverty Areas / Prejudice / Race / Race relations / Racial aspects / Racial Differences / Racial groups / Racial inequalities / Racial inequality / Racial segregation / Residence Characteristics / Residential Segregation / Risk / Risk Factors / Segregation / Social Class / Social Environment / Social Justice / Socioeconomic Factors / Socioeconomic status / Sociology / Sociology of health and medicine / Spatial analysis / Spatial distribution / U.S.A / United States / Urban areas / Urban policy / Urban Population / USA / Whites