ARE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN DIABETES IN THE USA DRIVEN BY EDUCATION DISTRIBUTION?

Widespread health disparities have been found between different races in the USA. The precise reasons for racial health disparities are not well understood although various factors have been proposed. Using diabetes related data from the NHANES III (1988-1994) of the USA, this paper shows that (1) there are wide ranging variations in diabetes within and between races; (2) educational attainment is a strong marker that explains a large proportion of the diabetes related disparities both within and between races; (3) within and between race disparities are reduced or reversed if educational attainments are accounted for even when people are similarly genetically predisposed or faces comparable other risk factors like higher body weight. Racial health disparities are shown to be driven by the underlying disparities in educational attainment. To reduce or remove racial health disparities, removal of educational disparities may be needed