Coupled ethical-epistemic analysis of public health research and practice: categorizing variables to improve population health and equity

Katikireddi, S. V. and Valles, S. A. (2015) Coupled ethical-epistemic analysis of public health research and practice: categorizing variables to improve population health and equity. American Journal of Public Health, 105(1), e36-e42. (doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302279) (PMID:25393193) (PMCID:PMC4265925)

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Abstract

The categorization of variables can stigmatize populations, which is ethically problematic and threatens the central purpose of public health: to improve population health and reduce health inequities. How social variables (e.g., behavioral risks for HIV) are categorized can reinforce stigma and cause unintended harms to the populations practitioners and researchers strive to serve.<p></p> Although debates about the validity or ethical consequences of epidemiological variables are familiar for specific variables (e.g., ethnicity), these issues apply more widely.<p></p> We argue that these tensions and debates regarding epidemiological variables should be analyzed simultaneously as ethical and epistemic challenges. We describe a framework derived from the philosophy of science that may be usefully applied to public health, and we illustrate its application.<p></p>

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Katikireddi, Professor Vittal
Authors: Katikireddi, S. V., and Valles, S. A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
Journal Name:American Journal of Public Health
Publisher:American Public Health Association
ISSN:0090-0036
ISSN (Online):1541-0048|
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2014 The Authors
First Published:First published in American Journal of Public Health 105(1):e36-e42
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
656591Evaluating the Health Effects of Social InterventionsMatthew EganMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/4IHW - MRC/CSO SPHU