Fundamental social causes of inequalities in colorectal cancer mortality: A study of behavioral and medical mechanisms

Heliyon

Julia Acker¹  Bruce G. Link²  Marcie S. Rubin³  Sean A.P. Clouston⁴  David H. Chae⁵ 

[1] Corresponding author.;Center for Health Ecology and Equity Research, College of Human Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA;Family Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA;Program in Public Health and Department of Family, Population, and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA;Section of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;

关键词: Demography;    Epidemiology;    Gastrointestinal system;    Oncology;    Physical activity;    Public health;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Fundamental cause theory posits that social conditions strongly influence the risk of health risks. This study identifies risk mechanisms that social conditions associated with socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity shape in the production of colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality. Methods: Two large datasets in the United States examining behavioral and medical preventive factors (N = 4.63-million people) were merged with population-level mortality data observing 761,100 CRC deaths among 3.31-billion person-years of observation to examine trends in CRC mortality from 1999-2012. Analyses examined the changing role of medical preventions and health behaviors in catalyzing SES and racial/ethnic inequalities in CRC mortality. Results: Lower SES as well as Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Native American race/ethnicity were associated with decreased access to age-appropriate screening and/or increased prevalence of behavioral risk factors. Analyses further revealed that SES and racial/ethnic inequalities were partially determined by differences in engagement in two preventive factors: use of colonoscopy, and participation in physical activity. Discussion: Social inequalities were not completely determined by behavioral risk factors. Nevertheless, a more equitable distribution of preventive medicines has the potential to reduce both the risk of, and social inequalities in, CRC mortality.

【 授权许可】

Unknown