Overview
This article discusses why race-based health data is essential for understanding and addressing health inequities affecting Black Canadians. It outlines promising practices for collecting, measuring, and monitoring race-based data in ethical, community-informed, and anti-racist ways
Key findings
Lack of race-based data contributes to invisibility of Black health inequities
Ethical race-based data collection is possible and necessary
Community engagement and governance are critical
Data should be used for action, not just reporting
Race must be understood as a social, not biological, construct
Policy considerations
Implement standardized race-based data collection across health systems
Ensure community leadership and accountability
Embed anti-racism frameworks in public health data practices
Use data to inform equity-focused policy decisions
Program considerations
Support community-led data initiatives
Train public health staff on ethical race-based data use
Strengthen partnerships with Black-serving organizations
Target population
Black Canadians and Black communities in Canada
Intended audience
Researchers, Health Care Providers, Community Organizations
Geographic focus
Canada
Evidence type
Other
Source type
Toolkit/Guide, Evaluation report
Language
English
Reference
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2025). Race-based sampling, measurement, and monitoring of health data: Promising practices for addressing racial health inequities and determinants among Black Canadians. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, 45(4).
