Several factors contributed to the exclusion of specific populations in epidemiological research. These include:
1. Racial Discrimination: Historically, racial minorities were often excluded from research due to discriminatory practices and prejudices. For example, African Americans were frequently left out of studies or subjected to unethical research practices, as seen in the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study.
2. Gender Bias: Women were often excluded from clinical trials and epidemiological studies due to assumptions that their biological differences might complicate results. This led to a lack of understanding of how diseases and treatments affect women differently from men.
3. Socioeconomic Barriers: Populations with lower socioeconomic status were often excluded due to lack of access to healthcare and research opportunities. This exclusion perpetuated health disparities and limited the generalizability of research findings.
4. Age Discrimination: Older adults and children were frequently excluded from studies, leading to gaps in knowledge about how diseases and treatments affect these age groups differently.
