INQ-300 | U.S. Health Disparities

Full Title: U.S. Health Disparities

Topic Description:

Why are certain people more likely to get diabetes or cancer than others? How does one’s race, gender, income or education level affect one’s likelihood of becoming chronically ill? How might we reduce health inequalities across different groups in the U.S.? This course will ask students to consider the social, economic, biological and political factors associated with major health problems in the U.S., including the rise in chronic disease (cancer, obesity, Type II diabetes) and some acute childhood illnesses and other conditions (measles, whooping cough, low birth weight). Students will also examine how these health conditions disproportionately affect groups across race, gender, class and other social categories. For their final projects, students will propose and defend an intervention strategy aimed at the reduction of a selected disease among one high-risk group. Students’ proposals may target groups at the local (i.e. Roanoke city or county), state or national level.

Counts as Global? No

Topic Approved: November 2012