For Immediate Release:
December 23, 2010

Contact:
Kyle Northam
202.336.8212
knortham@naswdc.org

NASW Presss Health and Social Work Journal Explores Health Disparities

Special November 2010 Issue

Inequality increasingly exists in health care and health status for disadvantaged populations, such as racial and ethnic minorities, homeless veterans, residents of rural areas, women, families with low incomes, and others.  In addition, particular health disparities (for example, HIV infection) have reached pandemic proportions among racial and ethnic minority communities. 

The special issue of Health and Social Work was inspired by the persistence of health care disparities between the rich and the poor.  The articles included are unified by their attention to these subjects.

 “Consistent with social work’s historical context and mission,” write Stephen H. Gorin, Sarah J. Gehlert and Thomas Alex Washington, “it is critical for our profession to play a leading role in disseminating knowledge not only to improve social work practice, but also to effect change in the systems and structures that perpetuate health inequalities.”

This Health and Social Work journal examines this trend as it relates to health social work practice.  The articles include:

  • “Health Inequalities: Evaluation of Two Paradigms”, by Rachelle Ashcroft, discusses the social determinants of health and political economy perspectives, and considers their implications for social work theory and practice.
  • “Can Racial Disparity in Health between Black and White Americans Be Attributed to Racial Disparities in Body Weight and Socioeconomic Status?”, by Sang Kyoung Kahng,  examines the impact of racial differences in body weights and socioeconomic status on racial disparities in chronic health conditions.
  • “Health Insurance Disparities among Immigrants: Are Some Legal Immigrants More Vulnerable Than Others?”, by Shanta Pandey and Njeri Kagotho, examines the differences in health insurance among recent legal immigrants, finding that almost two-thirds lack health insurance;
  • “Uncovering Health Care Inequalities among Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities”, by Rolanda L. Ward, Amanda Nichols, and Ruth I. Freedman, addresses health care inequalities among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and found that they face inequities in terms of access, knowledge, communication and quality in health care.
  • “Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Ameliorate Cancer Disparities”, by Sarah Gehlert and Robert Coleman, stresses tailoring interventions to the specific needs and cultures of diverse communities and engaging the community.
  • “Social Work and the Social Determinants of Health Perspective: A Good Fit”, in which Cynthia Moniz discusses the background of social determinants on health perspectives, and considers their implications for social work.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 145,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities through its advocacy.

NASW Press is a leading scholarly press in the social sciences. It serves faculty, practitioners, agencies, libraries, clinicians, and researchers throughout the United States and abroad. Known for attracting expert authors, the NASW Press delivers professional information to hundreds of thousands of readers through its scholarly journals, books, and reference works.

http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/2010/122310.asp
1/4/2013
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