CREATING HEALTH EQUITY UNT researchers from across disciplines are providing guidance on improving the health and quality of lives of marginalized populations.
TEXT BY: JESSICA DELEÓN
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his year, protesters filled the streets of America, marching against racial inequalities. But others are fighting racism by gathering data and shaping policy. Through their research, more than 40 UNT faculty members are addressing inequities in how people in Texas live, work, learn and interact socially — factors that the Centers for Disease Control cite as contributions to overall health considerations and outcomes. UNT’s Center for Racial and Ethnic Equity in Health and Society (CREEHS) was initiated by Chandra Carey, associate academic dean for UNT’s College of Health and Public Service and associate professor of rehabilitation and health services, and Tony Carey, associate professor of political science. Through federal- and state-funded grants, faculty are researching the educational, economic, environmental and social determinants of health to enhance the quality of life for underserved populations across Texas. UNT will seek additional funding from the Texas Legislature to help support the center that will provide a platform, such as policy reports, in creating legislation. “CREEHS is committed to seeking solutions to stimulate movement toward health equity,” Chandra Carey says. “Our mission is to explore racial and ethnic equity, examining the causes of these health care
gaps, evaluating social determinants of health, uncovering their broader economic and social consequences across the state of Texas, and providing research to uncover best practices and policy prescriptions for remedying these issues.” It couldn’t be timelier. The coronavirus pandemic has affected people of color more than whites. In the U.S., Blacks are dying at 3.7 times the rate of whites. Indigenous people are dying at 3.5 times the rate and Latinos at 2.5 times the rate, according to the APM Research Lab. Other health disparities exist. Black women are more likely to die while giving birth at three times the rate of white women. Black women also will die from breast cancer at a 40% higher rate than that of their white counterparts. “We like to think that economics will solve these problems,” Tony Carey says. “When in reality, you still have these racial and ethnic disparities that play a role. While in some cases accounting for class may reduce the impact of race on health outcomes, it very rarely eliminates it. Race or ethnicity tends to influence class position in the U.S., but not the other way around. Consequently, the emerging consensus is that it is best to consider the interactive relationship between race and class disparities when examining health care outcomes.”
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