Health Disparities: Home

Image Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Healthy People 2020 defines a health disparity as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.”

• “Disparities and Health Care: Five Key Questions & Answers” | Samantha Artiga, Kendal Orgera and Olivia Pham (March 2020)

• “The Fight to Eliminate Health Disparities in the U.S.” | University of Nevada-Reno Social Work Blog

• “What are Health Disparities and How Do They Affect the United States?” | Robert Dillard (August 2020)

• Health Disparities by Race and Ethnicity | Center for American Progress

Factors which influence an individual’s or population’s health including relationships that exist between health and biology, genetics and individual behavior, health and access to health services, socioeconomic status, the physical environment, discrimination, racism, literacy levels, and legislative policies are all determinants of health.

Source: CDC - Social Determinants of Health Gateway

• " Social Determinants of Health" | Healthy People 2030
• "Social Determinants of Health Infographic" | The Nation's Health (American Public Health Association)

Image Source: American Library Association

According to the CDC, health equity is when each person has the chance to reach “his or her full health potential,” without facing obstacles from “social position or other socially determined circumstances.” This includes equitable (fair) access to healthcare professionals, healthy food, a safe living environment, and the ability to be well across all aspects of life, from work to home life to medical care. 

• "Attaining Health Equity" | CDC
• "Defining Health Equity" | Human Impact Partners Project
• "Health Equity" | American Public Health Association
• "Healthy People 2030" | HealthyPeople.gov

• Center for Reducing Health Disparities
• CommonHealth Action
• The Foundation
• Human Impact Partners
• National Collaboration for Health Equity
• National REACH Coalition