Back to Search
Start Over
Social epidemiology and the fundamental cause concept: on the structuring of effective cancer screens by socioeconomic status.
- Source :
-
The Milbank quarterly [Milbank Q] 1998; Vol. 76 (3), pp. 375-402, 304-5. - Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- Since the early 1800s, studies have consistently demonstrated that people higher in the socioeconomic hierarchy live longer than people of lower rank. One hypothesis for the persistence of this association is that people who are relatively better off are more able to avoid risks by adopting currently available protective strategies. In a partial test of this idea, the social distributions of two cancer screening tests--Pap smears and mammography--were examined. A review of the literature and an analysis of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data showed a consistent association between indicators of socioeconomic status and recent screening. These findings support the theory that societies create and shape patterns of disease. Innovations beneficial to health are carried out within the context of inequalities that shape the distribution of the health benefit, thereby affecting patterns of morality.
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Breast Neoplasms epidemiology
Diagnostic Tests, Routine economics
Diagnostic Tests, Routine standards
Female
Humans
Income statistics & numerical data
Mammography economics
Middle Aged
Population Surveillance
Poverty statistics & numerical data
Program Development
Risk-Taking
Social Class
Socioeconomic Factors
United States epidemiology
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms epidemiology
Vaginal Smears economics
Breast Neoplasms prevention & control
Diagnostic Tests, Routine statistics & numerical data
Mammography statistics & numerical data
Papanicolaou Test
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms prevention & control
Vaginal Smears statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0887-378X
- Volume :
- 76
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Milbank quarterly
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9738168
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.00096