Decolonization and antiracism: intersecting pathways to global health equity

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Equity
• Critical Race Theory

Background:

• Health equity interventions often overlook the interconnectedness of colonization and racism.
• Racism is a pervasive global issue impacting diverse populations, including Africans and African Americans.
• Existing frameworks may not adequately address the dual challenges of decolonization and antiracism in health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how health equity interventions can integrate decolonization and antiracism strategies.
• To propose the Public Health Critical Race Praxis (PHCRP) and PEN-3 Cultural Model as tools for this integration.
• To advance research on the global impacts of colonization and racism on health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual paper drawing on the intersection of African and African American health.
• Utilizing the Public Health Critical Race Praxis (PHCRP) as an antiracism framework.
• Employing the PEN-3 Cultural Model as a decolonizing framework.

Main Results:

• Identifies pathways for coupling decolonization with antiracism in health equity interventions.
• Demonstrates the utility of PHCRP and PEN-3 as joint tools for global research.
• Highlights the global nature of racism and its impact on health.

Conclusions:

• The PHCRP and PEN-3 Cultural Model offer a robust approach to address intertwined racism and colonization.
• These frameworks can guide interventions promoting health equity for Africans and African Americans globally.
• Integrating decolonization and antiracism is crucial for achieving meaningful health equity.