What Is Health Disparity vs. Health Equity?
These articles are written by Diverse Health Hub for HCPs and those interested in making a difference in health outcomes. We present information to create in-depth conversations that encourage health professionals to critically think about how they can best serve their patients and families.
Health disparity and health equity are essential terms to understand and differentiate in healthcare, and clarity on the terms is vital. Health equity is a clear goal that the U.S. government has prioritized via funding of various health initiatives. Some of these funding initiatives are helping to provide telemedicine opportunities in both urban and rural areas and increasing awareness of lesser-known conditions like sickle cell disease and renal medullary carcinoma.
Reasoning for Distinct Definitions
It is of utmost importance to have distinct definitions to work with patients, healthcare professionals, health advocacy groups, and government public health organizations starting from equal footing. After health disparity and health equity are clearly understood, then partners across these groups can work toward a common goal together to reduce health disparities to work toward health equity.
Health Disparity Definition and Examples
The meaning of health disparity arose in the United States around 1990. The term health disparity was later defined in 2010 by the U.S. government in the Healthy People 2020 health initiative, “…a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with economic, social, or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater social or economic obstacles to health based on their racial or ethnic group, religion, socioeconomic -status, gender, age, or mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.” Examples of health disparities are historic underfunding of research and treatment options for sickle cell disease and renal medullary carcinoma. In more recent years, the evidence of this underfunding has led to some increased sickle cell disease research funding.
Health Equity Definition and Example
Health equity is the end goal for equal access, care, and health outcomes for all patients no matter economic, social, or environmental disadvantage. Advocates for human rights cite equal access to quality healthcare as a basic right. And health disparities must be addressed to work toward health equity. One recent example of health equity was expanding access of COVID-19 vaccines that were offered for those of approved ages who wanted to receive them – and deploying methods like mobile vaccination units to reach people at their convenience.
Solutions to Achieve Health Equity
Healthcare advocates and professionals must take action to improve care for all no matter their economic, social, or environmental disadvantages. Actions can be taken to help work toward equitable healthcare for all patients, including:
Increased recruitment of BIPOC individuals into healthcare education and professions
Routine surveys of the healthcare experiences of underdiagnosed and untreated populations must continue to gauge the rates of those who still experience health disparities
Patient advocates and healthcare providers can advocate for increased funding for underserved patient groups and medical conditions in need of more research funding
Healthcare professionals can encourage underdiagnosed and untreated BIPOC groups to participate in clinical trials for more refined treatments
Individuals involved in creating clinical trials can design them in a manner to help reduce barriers to participation
Source
Paula Braveman, MD, MPH. What Are Health Disparities and Health Equity? We Need to Be Clear. National Library of Medicine website. Accessed February 21, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3863701/
