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January 8, 1992, Vol 267, No. 2 >
ARTICLE | January 8, 1992

The Use of Race in Medical Research FREE

Newton G. Osborne, MD, PhD; Marvin D. Feit, PhD
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprint requests to Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology, Creighton University, 601 N 30th St, Suite 4810, Omaha, NE 68131 (Dr Osborne).


JAMA. 1992;267(2):275-279. doi:10.1001/jama.1992.03480020085037
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References

IS RACIAL research in medicine racist? Publications about comparative racial research number in the thousands. A review of the English-language medical literature reveals that there is a predilection for making comparisons between black and white patients, particularly with diseases associated with promiscuity, underachievement, and antisocial behavior. Reports on studies of sexually acquired diseases,1-6 suboptimal intellectual performance,7-9 drug abuse,10,11 violence,12-14 and sexual assault15-17 are common. Other topics of racial comparison are differences in incidence of renal and cardiovascular18-21 diseases and presumed racial differences in anatomy,22,23 physiology,24-26 and psychology.27

See also pp 259 and 268.

When race is used as a variable in research, there is a tendency to assume that the results obtained are a manifestation of the biology of racial differences; race as a variable implies that a genetic reason may explain differences in incidence, severity, or outcome of medical conditions.

REFERENCES

1 +
Moscicki B, Shafer MA, Millstein SG, et al.  The use and limitations of endocervical Gram stains and mucopurulent cervicitis as predictors for Chlamydia trachomatis in female adolescents. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1987;;157:65-71.
2 +
Ryan GM, Abdella TN, McNeeley SG, et al.  Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy and effect of treatment on outcome. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1990;; 162:34-39.
3 +
Hahn RA, Magder LS, Aral SO, et al.  Race and the prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity in the United States population: a national sero-epidemiologic study. Am J Public Health . 1989;;79:467-470.
4 +
Lee NC, Rubin GL, Grimes DA.  Measures of sexual behavior and the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;77:425-430.
5 +
Savitz DA, Blackmore CA, Thorp JM.  Epidemiologic characteristics of preterm delivery: etiologic heterogeneity. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;164:467-471.
6 +
Aral SO, Holmes KK.  Sexually transmitted diseases in the AIDS era. Sci Am . 1991;;264:62-69.
7 +
Resnick MB, Stralka K, Carter RL, et al.  Effect of birth weight and sociodemographic variables on mental development of neonatal intensive care survivors. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1990;;162:374-378.
8 +
Landman GB, Carpenter RO.  Neurodevelopmental assessment of behaviorally disordered inner city boys. Clin Pediatr . 1988;;27:596-600.
9 +
Babbott D, Weaver SO, Baldwin DC.  Personal characteristics, career plans, and specialty choice of medical students elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. Arch Intern Med . 1989;;149:576-580.
10 +
Hanzlick R, Gowitt GT.  Cocaine metabolite detection in homicide victims. JAMA . 1991;;265:760-761.
11 +
McCalla S, Minkoff HL, Feldman J, et al.  The biologic and social consequences of perinatal cocaine use in an inner-city population: results of an anonymous cross-sectional study. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;164:625-630.
12 +
Mercy JA, Saltzman LE.  Fatal violence among spouses in the United States, 1976-1985. Am J Public Health . 1989;;79:595-599.
13 +
Griffith EEH, Bell CC.  Recent trends in suicide and homicide among blacks. JAMA . 1989;;262:2265-2269.
14 +
Centers for Disease Control.  Homicide surveillance: high-risk racial and ethnic groups: blacks and Hispanics, 1970 to 1983. MMWR . 1987;;36:634-636.
15 +
Satin AJ, Hemsell DL, Stone IC, et al.  Sexual assault in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;77:710-714.
16 +
Centers for Disease Control.  Family and other intimate assaults. MMWR . 1990;;39:525-529.
17 +
McCauley J, Gorman RL, Guzinski G.  Toluidine blue in the detection of perineal lacerations in pediatric and adolescent sexual abuse victims. Pediatrics . 1986;;78:1039-1043.
18 +
Kasiske BL, Neylan JF, Riggio RR, et al.  The effect of race on access and outcome in transplantation. N Engl J Med . 1991;;324:302-307.
19 +
Klag MJ, Whelton PK, Coresh J, et al.  The association of skin color with blood pressure in US blacks with low socioeconomic status. JAMA . 1991;;265:599-602.
20 +
Harburg E, Gleiberman L, Ozgoren F, et al.  Skin color, ethnicity, and blood pressure, I: Detroit blacks. Am J Public Health . 1978;;68:1177-1183.
21 +
Harburg E, Gleiberman L, Ozgoren F, et al.  Skin color, ethnicity, and blood pressure, II: Detroit whites. Am J Public Health . 1978;;68:1184-1188.
22 +
Warwick R, William PL.  Sexual and racial differences in the cranium.  In: Warwick R, William PL, eds. Gray's Anatomy . 35th British ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1973;:312-314.
23 +
Warwick R, William PL.  Cerebral dimensions.  In: Warwick R, William PL, eds. Gray's Anatomy . 35th British ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1973;:982-984.
24 +
Arensman FW, Treiber FA, Gruber MP, Strong WB.  Exercise-induced differences in cardiac output, blood pressure, and systemic vascular resistance in a healthy biracial population of 10-year-old boys. AJDC . 1989;;143:212-216.
25 +
Weinstein RS, Bell NH.  Diminished rates of bone formation in normal black adults. N Engl J Med . 1988;;319:1698-1701.
26 +
Zemel MB, Zemel PC, Berry S, et al.  Altered platelet calcium metabolism as an early predictor of increased peripheral vascular resistance and preeclampsia in urban black women. N Engl J Med . 1990;;323:434-438.
27 +
Beecher Stowe H. Uncle Tom's Cabin . New York, NY: Bantam; 1981;:chap 10.
28 +
Frost F, Shy KK.  Racial differences between linked birth and infant death records in Washington State. Am J Public Health . 1980;;70:974-976.
29 +
Navarro V.  Race or class versus race and class: mortality differentials in the United States. Lancet . 1990;;336:1238-1240.
30 +
Cartwright S.  Diseases and peculiarities of the Negro race: presented at the medical convention in Louisiana, 1851. DeBow's Rev . 1851;;11:64-69, 331-336.
31 +
Parks E.  Around the mall and beyond. Smithsonian . 1991;;21( (12) ):18-22.
32 +
Archer C.  Psychologic aspects in the treatment of tuberculosis. S Afr Med J . 1960;;34:242-244.
33 +
Brink AJ.  Medical research in the Republic of South Africa. S Afr Med J . 1977;;51:493-494.
34 +
Tabor E, Gerety RJ, Cairns J, Bayley AC.  Did HIV and HTLV originate in Africa? JAMA . 1990;;264:691-692.
35 +
Kaldor J.  HIV and HTLV in Africa. JAMA . 1991;;265:975.
36 +
Novick LF, Berns D, Stricot R, et al.  HIV seroprevalence in newborns in New York State. JAMA . 1989;;261:1745-1750.
37 +
Landesman S, Minkoff HL, Holman S, McCalla S, Sijin O.  Serosurvey of human immunodeficiency virus infection in parturients. JAMA . 1987;;258:2701-2703.
38 +
Minkoff HL, McCalla S, Delke I, et al.  The relationship of cocaine use to syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus infections among inner city parturient women. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1990;;163:521-526.
39 +
Mare RD.  Socioeconomic effects on child mortality in the United States. Am J Public Health . 1982;;72:539-547.
40 +
 Black women found less likely to spot early pregnancy signs. Ob/Gyn News . 1989;;31:12.
41 +
Vital Statistics of the United States: Mortality, Part A . Washington, DC: US Census Bureau; 1967;;2:1-40.
42 +
TeLinde RW, Mattingly RF.  Ectopic pregnancy.  In: Operative Gynecology . 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott Co; 1970;:323-343.

Figures

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Moscicki B, Shafer MA, Millstein SG, et al.  The use and limitations of endocervical Gram stains and mucopurulent cervicitis as predictors for Chlamydia trachomatis in female adolescents. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1987;;157:65-71.
2 +
Ryan GM, Abdella TN, McNeeley SG, et al.  Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy and effect of treatment on outcome. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1990;; 162:34-39.
3 +
Hahn RA, Magder LS, Aral SO, et al.  Race and the prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity in the United States population: a national sero-epidemiologic study. Am J Public Health . 1989;;79:467-470.
4 +
Lee NC, Rubin GL, Grimes DA.  Measures of sexual behavior and the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease. Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;77:425-430.
5 +
Savitz DA, Blackmore CA, Thorp JM.  Epidemiologic characteristics of preterm delivery: etiologic heterogeneity. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;164:467-471.
6 +
Aral SO, Holmes KK.  Sexually transmitted diseases in the AIDS era. Sci Am . 1991;;264:62-69.
7 +
Resnick MB, Stralka K, Carter RL, et al.  Effect of birth weight and sociodemographic variables on mental development of neonatal intensive care survivors. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1990;;162:374-378.
8 +
Landman GB, Carpenter RO.  Neurodevelopmental assessment of behaviorally disordered inner city boys. Clin Pediatr . 1988;;27:596-600.
9 +
Babbott D, Weaver SO, Baldwin DC.  Personal characteristics, career plans, and specialty choice of medical students elected to Alpha Omega Alpha. Arch Intern Med . 1989;;149:576-580.
10 +
Hanzlick R, Gowitt GT.  Cocaine metabolite detection in homicide victims. JAMA . 1991;;265:760-761.
11 +
McCalla S, Minkoff HL, Feldman J, et al.  The biologic and social consequences of perinatal cocaine use in an inner-city population: results of an anonymous cross-sectional study. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;164:625-630.
12 +
Mercy JA, Saltzman LE.  Fatal violence among spouses in the United States, 1976-1985. Am J Public Health . 1989;;79:595-599.
13 +
Griffith EEH, Bell CC.  Recent trends in suicide and homicide among blacks. JAMA . 1989;;262:2265-2269.
14 +
Centers for Disease Control.  Homicide surveillance: high-risk racial and ethnic groups: blacks and Hispanics, 1970 to 1983. MMWR . 1987;;36:634-636.
15 +
Satin AJ, Hemsell DL, Stone IC, et al.  Sexual assault in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;77:710-714.
16 +
Centers for Disease Control.  Family and other intimate assaults. MMWR . 1990;;39:525-529.
17 +
McCauley J, Gorman RL, Guzinski G.  Toluidine blue in the detection of perineal lacerations in pediatric and adolescent sexual abuse victims. Pediatrics . 1986;;78:1039-1043.
18 +
Kasiske BL, Neylan JF, Riggio RR, et al.  The effect of race on access and outcome in transplantation. N Engl J Med . 1991;;324:302-307.
19 +
Klag MJ, Whelton PK, Coresh J, et al.  The association of skin color with blood pressure in US blacks with low socioeconomic status. JAMA . 1991;;265:599-602.
20 +
Harburg E, Gleiberman L, Ozgoren F, et al.  Skin color, ethnicity, and blood pressure, I: Detroit blacks. Am J Public Health . 1978;;68:1177-1183.
21 +
Harburg E, Gleiberman L, Ozgoren F, et al.  Skin color, ethnicity, and blood pressure, II: Detroit whites. Am J Public Health . 1978;;68:1184-1188.
22 +
Warwick R, William PL.  Sexual and racial differences in the cranium.  In: Warwick R, William PL, eds. Gray's Anatomy . 35th British ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1973;:312-314.
23 +
Warwick R, William PL.  Cerebral dimensions.  In: Warwick R, William PL, eds. Gray's Anatomy . 35th British ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1973;:982-984.
24 +
Arensman FW, Treiber FA, Gruber MP, Strong WB.  Exercise-induced differences in cardiac output, blood pressure, and systemic vascular resistance in a healthy biracial population of 10-year-old boys. AJDC . 1989;;143:212-216.
25 +
Weinstein RS, Bell NH.  Diminished rates of bone formation in normal black adults. N Engl J Med . 1988;;319:1698-1701.
26 +
Zemel MB, Zemel PC, Berry S, et al.  Altered platelet calcium metabolism as an early predictor of increased peripheral vascular resistance and preeclampsia in urban black women. N Engl J Med . 1990;;323:434-438.
27 +
Beecher Stowe H. Uncle Tom's Cabin . New York, NY: Bantam; 1981;:chap 10.
28 +
Frost F, Shy KK.  Racial differences between linked birth and infant death records in Washington State. Am J Public Health . 1980;;70:974-976.
29 +
Navarro V.  Race or class versus race and class: mortality differentials in the United States. Lancet . 1990;;336:1238-1240.
30 +
Cartwright S.  Diseases and peculiarities of the Negro race: presented at the medical convention in Louisiana, 1851. DeBow's Rev . 1851;;11:64-69, 331-336.
31 +
Parks E.  Around the mall and beyond. Smithsonian . 1991;;21( (12) ):18-22.
32 +
Archer C.  Psychologic aspects in the treatment of tuberculosis. S Afr Med J . 1960;;34:242-244.
33 +
Brink AJ.  Medical research in the Republic of South Africa. S Afr Med J . 1977;;51:493-494.
34 +
Tabor E, Gerety RJ, Cairns J, Bayley AC.  Did HIV and HTLV originate in Africa? JAMA . 1990;;264:691-692.
35 +
Kaldor J.  HIV and HTLV in Africa. JAMA . 1991;;265:975.
36 +
Novick LF, Berns D, Stricot R, et al.  HIV seroprevalence in newborns in New York State. JAMA . 1989;;261:1745-1750.
37 +
Landesman S, Minkoff HL, Holman S, McCalla S, Sijin O.  Serosurvey of human immunodeficiency virus infection in parturients. JAMA . 1987;;258:2701-2703.
38 +
Minkoff HL, McCalla S, Delke I, et al.  The relationship of cocaine use to syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus infections among inner city parturient women. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1990;;163:521-526.
39 +
Mare RD.  Socioeconomic effects on child mortality in the United States. Am J Public Health . 1982;;72:539-547.
40 +
 Black women found less likely to spot early pregnancy signs. Ob/Gyn News . 1989;;31:12.
41 +
Vital Statistics of the United States: Mortality, Part A . Washington, DC: US Census Bureau; 1967;;2:1-40.
42 +
TeLinde RW, Mattingly RF.  Ectopic pregnancy.  In: Operative Gynecology . 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: JB Lippincott Co; 1970;:323-343.

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