483; Analysis of ethnic-racial health inequities: scope of population health surveys in Colombia, 2002–2018

Abstract

EP3.3, e-Poster Terminal 3, September 4, 2025, 10:05 - 10:25

Aims

Population health surveys are crucial for monitoring health and informing policies. However, their capacity to address ethnic-racial inequities is constrained by conceptual and methodological challenges. This study examines the measurement and analysis?of?ethnic-racial inequities in Colombian health surveys (2002–2018).

Methods

This research combines document review and expert consensus to advance understanding in this field. It addresses four objectives using diverse methodologies. Objective 1. reviews how ethnic-racial analysis has been conducted in health surveys across diverse countries, employing a systematic methodological review grounded in critical race theory. Objective 2 analyses theoretical and methodological approaches to race, racism, and inequities in Colombian surveys (2002–2018). Objective 3 explores the potential for analysing inequities in these surveys through secondary data analysis, including the feasibility of a synthetic measure of ethnic-racial health inequity.

Results

Preliminary findings reveal that ethnicity is often operationalized superficially, limiting its utility for studying inequities. Colombian national health surveys commonly use census-based ethnic categorization, unchanged since 2010. While inequalities can be analysed, gaps remain in capturing meaningful information on lived experiences. Racism is largely overlooked, with analyses focusing on ethnic group comparisons rather than structural racism as a determinant. Several population groups lack sufficient data for quantitative analyses. Some surveys include qualitative studies that could enhance understanding of racism, but this information is not systematically collected. This omission limits insights into how ethnic-racial identities intersect with social determinants, leading to oversimplified or overlooked disparities.

Conclusions

Methodological limitations persist, hindering innovation. Without a shared understanding of ethnicity’s complexities, efforts to improve survey design and analysis remain insufficient.