Health disparities and advocacy chapter

Abstract

This chapter addresses health disparities, determinants of disparities, documented health disparities between Arab Americans and the majority group, and the Arab American community response to address disparities through advocacy. As such, it draws upon information for specific diseases reviewed in other chapters in this Health & Disease Section. Furthermore, as disparities in the USA reflect historical and social forces, the reader is referred to Section One, Culture, for information about historical and social forces impacting Arab Americans. We conclude that sufficient evidence exists from the health disparities literature for Arab Americans to be considered an ethnic minority, and more information and action are needed to address these disparities.