Population-Attributable Risk Percentages for Racialized Risk Environments

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Health Geography
• Social Epidemiology

Background:

• Existing research on place characteristics and health inequities inadequately incorporates geographical concepts of race and place.
• Current quantitative methods, primarily using effect estimates like odds ratios, fail to fully represent the impact of place on health disparities.
• This limits the translation of research findings into actionable public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate geographical theories of race and place into health equity research.
• To propose a refined conceptual framework of "racialized risk environments."
• To advocate for the routine use of race/ethnicity-specific population-attributable risk percentages in analyzing health inequities.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual development drawing on geographical theories of race and place.
• Critique of traditional epidemiological methods for quantifying health inequities related to place.
• Proposal for the calculation and application of population-attributable risk percentages stratified by race/ethnicity.

Main Results:

• The concept of "racialized risk environments" offers a more nuanced understanding of how place characteristics contribute to health inequities.
• Traditional effect estimates are insufficient for capturing the full burden of disease attributable to place-based racial inequities.
• Race/ethnicity-specific population-attributable risk percentages provide a more comprehensive measure for public health action.

Conclusions:

• Integrating geographical perspectives enhances the study of health inequities.
• "Racialized risk environments" is a valuable framework for understanding place-based health disparities.
• The adoption of race/ethnicity-specific population-attributable risk percentages is crucial for effective public health strategies addressing racial inequities.