Do Intersections of Diversity Matter? An Exploration of the Relationship Between Identity Markers and Health for Mid- to Later-life Canadians.

This paper explores the intersections of diversity, namely the identity markers of ethnicity, gender, age, and immigrant status, in the area of health and well-being. Based on findings from recent studies on the determinants of health status and health care utilisation patterns of immigrant and native-born Canadians in mid-to later life (Dunn and Dyck, 1998; Globerman, 1998; Kopec, Williams, To and Austin, 2001; Perez, 2002), the paper examines issues of representation, inclusion, and access to health care services from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. Specifically, the focus is on identifying and understanding the connections between ethnicity, gender, age, immigrant status, charter language ability, and health care accessibility and utilisation over the adult life course. A recent study, based on analyses from 1996-1997 National Population Health Survey data, examining the intersections between age, health, immigrant status, and language ability is highlighted. The paper concludes with a discussion on the implications of this research for policy and program development targeting specific intersection sub-groups (e.g., South Asian older adult women for screening tests). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]