What Does It Mean When Medical Experts Say "Race" Is A Risk Factor For Certain Diseases?

Editor's Note:

"Race" is sometimes mentioned as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers and a number of other diseases. When you read this in a discussion about an illness, note that the explanation seldom refers to anything biological. Instead, it usually refers to behavior, such as eating habits. The kinds of behavior usually mentioned as risk factors are culturally determined. They are not genetic or biological.

Why is this important?

Because of statements made by esteemed medical experts like this: "White women are more likely to develop endometrial cancer, but black women are much more likely to die of the disease."

Attributing a high mortality rate to "race" is a frightening idea and requires some analysis.

According to the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, “There is no national, religious, linguistic or cultural group or economic class that constitutes a race.” In other words, among homo sapiens, there is only one biological race, and that is the Human Race.

To explain the likelihood of any so-called "racial" group being more likely to die of a particular disease than some other "racial" group, we must look to the culture of the people involved. Culture dictates behavior, and some behaviors can pose risk factors for illness or increase the mortality rate once ill. Some examples are eating habits, or how people deal with illness, or attitudes and expectations people have about interacting with officials, including doctors and health care systems.

And, in some cases, socio-economic factors, such as poverty, can force people to act in ways which may decrease the chances for recovery, such as minimal access to health care, fewer health-related choices, reduced opportunity, or even lower quality of care once in the health care system.

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