Health Equity and Health Disparities Explained

Healthcare shouldn't have borders!
Many individuals are marginalized in the healthcare sector due many reasons, some as petty as their skin color. These problems can be narrowed down to three particular concepts; health equity, health equality, and health disparities.
Unless there is a proper understanding of these concepts proper healthcare will continue to be limited to certain privileged people.

1. HEALTH EQUITY AND
HEALTH DISPARITIES
Prepared by
Kanyio Precious
Tolu Morakinyo

2. HEALTH EQUITY

3. OUTLINE
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Introduction
Principles Of Health Equity
Social Determinants of Health And Their Impact Of
Health Equity
Health Equity And Human Rights
Health Equity And Health Equality
Addressing Barriers To Health Equity, Policies And
Reform Programmes
Community based Approaches To Promoting Health
Equity
References

4. Health Equity is the absence of unfair and avoidable or
remediable differences in health among population groups
defined socially, economically, demographically,
geographically or by other dimensions of inequality (e.g sex,
gender, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation). It is a
fundamental component of social justice, emphasizing the
difference in health status and outcomes between groups due
to their social and economic backgrounds which creates a
difference in access to health.
It is both an outcome and a process, such that, it removes
obstacles to health care access and gives everyone equal
opportunity to attain the highest level of health.
INTRODUCTION

5. The WHO, emphasizing that achieving equity is fundamental
to improving global health outcomes and addressing health
disparities, laid down principles to promote health equity
globally:
PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH EQUITY
1. Equity in Health: Ensuring that health resources are
distributed according to need, aiming to reduce and eliminate
health disparities
2. Social Determinants of Health: addressing factors such as
socio-economic status, education, environment, employment
and access to healthcare, which significantly impacts health
outcomes.
3. Universal Health Coverage: guaranteeing that all
individuals receive the health services they need without
suffering financial hardship.

6. 4. Non-Discrimination: providing equal access to health
services for all, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion,
socio-economic status, or other factors.
5. Community Participation: engaging communities in the
decision-making process to ensure health strategies are
culturally relevant and meet the population’s needs.
6. Human Rights-Based Approach: ensuring that health
policies and programs are guided by principles of human
rights, including the right to health.
PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH EQUITY CONT'D
7. Evidence Based Policies: developing health policies and
interventions based on rigorous evidence and research
8. Intersectoral Action: collaborating across different
sectors and disciplines to address the broad determinants of
health and achieve health equity.

7. SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND
THEIR IMPACT OF HEALTH EQUITY
1. Education Access: This impacts health equity by shaping
individual’s health literacy, employment opportunities, and
overall well-being.
2. Healthcare Acces And Quality: Timely diagnosis, effective
treatment, and preventive services, lead to better health
outcomes and reduced disparities.
3. Neighbourhood And Built Environment: Safe, well
maintained neighbourhoods with access to recreational
facilities, healthy food options, promote active lifestyles and
reduces stress, leading to better health outcomes.
4. Economic Stability: Economic stability profoundly influences
individuals and communities ability to achieve optimal health.

8. HEALTH EQUITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Health equity focuses on reducing health disparities and
ensuring equal access to healthcare services, while human
rights emphasizes the dignity and worth of every individual,
entitling them to certain fundamental rights and freedoms. All
humans have a right to health within the human rights
framework. The right to health asserts that all humans are
entitled to services and freedoms that enable them to attain
the highest attainable mental and physical well-being and
health status, this relationship is bidirectional. Health
policies that align with human rights tend to be more
effective and equitable, e.g the United Nations Programme on
HIV/AIDS (UNIAIDS) argue that a human rights-based
approach to health can address stigma, discrimination and
inequality that drive health disparities and disease outbreaks.

9. HEALTH EQUITY AND HEALTH EQUALITY
Health equality is the concept of providing everyone with the
same level of resources, services and opportunities in
healthcare. Health equality is grounded in the principle of
uniformity- ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their
background, can receive the same care and resources. For
example, a health equality approach might involve
distributing the same amount of healthcare funding or
resources across all regions of the country, or providing the
same level of healthcare services to every individual.
Health equity in contrast, is about recognizing and
addressing these differences in needs and circumstances. It
involves the fair distribution of resources, services, and
opportunities based on individual or community needs,
rather than providing the same to everyone.

10. The goal of health equity is to eliminate health disparities
by ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to
achieve their best possible health.

One of the clearest illustrations on the difference between
health equality and health equity can be seen in the
response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A health equality
approach might involve distributing vaccines equally across
all populations, regardless of risk factors. In contrast, a
health equity approach would prioritize vaccine distribution
to those at highest risk, such as elderly individuals, people
with underlying health conditions, and communities
disproportionately affected by the virus.
HEALTH EQUITY AND HEALTH EQUALITY CONT’D

12. ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO HEALTH EQUITY,
POLICIES AND REFORM PROGRAMMES
Health equity remains a significant challenge globally, as systemic and
structural barriers continue to prevent many individuals and communities
from achieving optimal health. These barriers are deeply rooted in
historical, social, economic and political systems, these barriers are often
perpetuated by policies, practices and norms. One of the most significant
systemic barriers is structural racism. Economic inequality is another
major barrier to health equity. Access to healthcare is fundamental to
health equity, yet many individuals face barriers such as lack of insurance,
high costs, and geographic limitations. Policy reforms aimed at improving
healthcare access are essential for reducing health disparities and ensuring
that all individuals can achieve optimal health. By addressing issues and
barriers to healthcare access, policymakers can create a more equitable
health system that ensures all individuals have the opportunity to achieve
their highest level of health. Achieving health equity is not only a matter
of social justice but also a critical component of improving public health
outcomes for all.

13. COMMUNITY BASED APPROACHES TO PROMOTING
HEALTH EQUITY
1. Capacity Building: Which involves strengthening the skills,
resources, and abilities of community members to address
health issues.
2. Fostering Partnerships: partnerships between community
organizations, healthcare providers, government agencies, and
other stakeholders.
3. Cultural Competence: is crucial in ensuring that health
interventions are respectful of and tailored to the cultural,
linguistic, and social contexts of the communities they serve.

14. 1. Dovetail Editorial Team. (2023, June). What is health equity? Dovetail.
Retrieved from https://dovetail.com/patient-experience/health-equity-
definition/

REFERENCES
2. World Health Organization. (2010). Health equity. Retrieved from https:
//www.who.int/health-topics/health-equity
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). What is health equity?
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/health-equity/what-is/index.html
4. St. Catherine University. (2022). Health Equity and Health Equality.
Retrieved from https://www.stkate.edu/academics/healthcare-
degrees/health-equity-vs-health-equality
5. Braveman, P. (2010). Social conditions, health equity, and human rights.
In Health and Human Rights: Policy and Equity. Retrieved from https:
//www.vaia.com/en-us/explanations/geography/health-and-human-rights/
6. Flaubert, J.I. (2021). National Institutes of Health. Future of nursing 2020
-2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academies Press.
Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573923/

15. HEALTH DISPARITIES

16. OUTLINE
1. Introduction
2. Types Of Health Disparities
3. Health Disparities In Specific Populations
4. Disparities In Access To Healthcare And Health
Outcomes
5. Social Determinants Of Health Disparities
6. Health Disparities In Specific Diseases
7. The Role Of Bias And Discrimination In Health
Disparities
8. Strategies For Reducing Health Disparities
9. Measuring And Monitoring Health Disparities
10. References

17. Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of
disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal
health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged
populations.

It is a type of preventable health difference that is closely
linked with social, political, economic, and environmental
disadvantages. Health disparities may occur because of race,
ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age,
religion, disability, education, income, where people live, or
other characteristics. For example, certain race and ethnic
groups may have higher rates of disease, disability, and death
than those in other groups because they are more likely to
have problems having access to good health.
INTRODUCTION

18. Image Credit: nih.gov

19. Health disparities can be categorized in several ways:
1. Racial and Ethnic Disparities
2. Socioeconomic Disparities
3. Geographic Disparities
4. Gender Disparities
TYPES OF HEALTH DISPARITIES
5. Age Disparities
6. Disability Disparities
7. Language and Literacy Disparities

20. NonHispanic Blacks face rates of hypertension, diabetes, and
obesity that are 25%, 49%, and 59% higher, respectively, than
those found among nonHispanic Whites, while Hispanics
experience rates of diabetes and obesity that are 25% and
20% higher, respectively than their nonHispanic White
counterparts (NCHS 2016). Sub-Saharan Africa remains the
world's poorest region with almost half of its people living on
less than one dollar a day. Sub-Saharan Africa also bears the
brunt of global health with high levels of undernutrition, 50%
of maternal and child deaths, and a high burden of infectious
diseases, including HIV and AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
In Nigeria, poor people spend about 9 times more on health
costs than wealthy people.
HEALTH DISPARITIES IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

21. Racial And Ethnic: Minority groups often face barriers to healthcare
access, language barrier including fewer healthcare facilities in their
communities, leading to poorer health outcomes such as higher rates of
chronic diseases and low life expectancy.
DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND
HEALTH OUTCOMES
Socioeconomic: Low-income individuals often lack health insurance and
live in areas with limited healthcare resources resulting in worse health
outcomes, including higher disease prevalence and lower overall health.
Gender: Women may experience limited access, especially in
reproductive health, and suffer from conditions that are less researched,
affecting health outcomes negatively.
Disability: Barriers faced by people with disabilities result in delayed or
inadequate care, leading to worse health outcomes and increased
complications.
Geographic: Rural areas have fewer health care providers and longer
travel times, while urban areas have neighborhood disparities,
contributing to delayed care and poorer health outcomes.

22. Social determinants of health affecting disparities include:
1. Poverty: Limits access to healthcare, heathy eating, and safe
living conditions.
2. Education: Influences health literacy, income, and access to
care.
3. Housing: Poor conditions impact physical and mental health.
4. Employment: Affects job security, working conditions, and
health benefits.
5. Healthcare Access: Availability and affordability vary,
influencing care access.
6. Neighborhood: Access to healthy food, safe spaces, and
environmental quality.
7. Social Support: Strong networks improve health outcomes.
SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH DISPARITIES

23. HEALTH DISPARITIES IN SOME SPECIFIC DISEASES
According to CDC, For HIV, In 2018, African Americans/Blacks
accounted for 42% of the 37,968 new HIV diagnoses in the
United States and dependent areas. Of the 37,968 new HIV
diagnoses in the US and dependent areas in 2018:
- 42% were among adult and adolescent African
Americans/Blacks
- 31% were among African American/Black men
- 11% were among African American/Black women
For Gonorrhea, In 2018, the overall rate of reported gonorrhea
cases among African Americans/Blacks in the United States was
7.7 times the rate among Whites. This disparity was similar for
African American/Black males (8.5 times the rate among White
males) and African American/Black females (6.9 times the rate
among White females).

24. Unconscious bias can influence a health care provider's
assessments and decisions regarding a patient's care, creating
disparities in treatment. Bias and discrimination may also
negatively impact provider-patient communication and lead to
disparate outcomes and treatment.
THE ROLE OF BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION IN
HEALTH DISPARITIES
Bias and discrimination significantly impact health
disparities by affecting access to and quality of care. It can
occur at both the interpersonal and the institutional level of
healthcare. Bias can lead to people receiving poor treatment,
receiving inaccurate diagnoses, or experiencing delays in
diagnosis. It can also lead to stress, which can worsen health
conditions.

25. STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES
1. Policy Changes: Expandng health care and insurance, increase
funding, support public health initiatives
3. Social Determinants: Affordable housing and Economic
opportunities
4. Community Engagement: Community health programs, Local
partnerships
2. Education and Awareness: Improving health literacy, Public
awareness campaigns
5. Healthcare System: Increase workforce diversity, developed
integrated health care models, quality improvement practices
6. Data and Research: Monitor health disparities, Fund targeted
research
7. Improving Access to Care: Expanding Health services, Mobile
clinics and Transportation services

26. MEASURING AND MONITORING HEALTH DISPARITIES
Measuring and monitoring health disparities is a critical step
in identifying and addressing the unequal distribution of
health outcomes and resources across different populations.
This process involves collecting and analyzing data on various
health indicators, such as mortality rates, disease prevalence,
and access to healthcare services. To effectively measure and
monitor health disparities, researchers and healthcare
professionals use various tools and frameworks, including:The
Health Equity Index (HEI), Social Determinants of Health
Regular monitoring and evaluation of health disparities data
enable policymakers and healthcare professionals to develop
evidence-based solutions to address these disparities and
promote health equity.

27. REFERENCES
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last Reviewed 2023,
May 26. Disparities in Health among Youth. Retrieved from https:
//www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/disparities/index.html
2. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Health Disparity. In Dictionary of
Cancer Terms. Retrieved from https:
//www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/health-
disparity
3. Colen, C. G., Ramey, D. M., Cooksey, E. C., & Williams, D. R. (2017).
Non-Hispanic Blacks face rates of diseases that are disproportionate
compared to their White counterparts. Frontiers in Public Health, 5,
Article 67 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00067
4. Dejusticia. 2024, March 29. Health inequalities in Nigeria. Retrieved
from https://www.dejusticia.org/en/health-inequalities-in-nigeria/

28. 5. Rispel, L. C., de Sousa, C. A. P., & Molomo, B. G. (2009). Can social
inclusion policies reduce health inequalities in Sub-Saharan Africa?—A
rapid policy appraisal. Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition,
27(4), 492–504.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2024, January 17. Health
disparities: Black/African American populations. U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/health-
disparities-hiv-std-tb-hepatitis/populations/black-african-american.html
7. University of Pennsylvania. (n.d.). Bias and health care disparities.
Center for Health Equity Advancement. Retrieved from https:
//www.chea.upenn.edu/bias-and-health-care-disparities/
REFERENCES CONT'D

29. THANK YOU