"Health equity arises from access to the social determinants of health, specifically from wealth, power and prestige."
- This topic describes the challenges faced by different populations in accessing healthcare services, and how disparities in healthcare delivery can impact health outcomes.
Definition and measurement of healthcare access and disparities: This topic covers the definition of healthcare access and disparities and how to measure them.
Theoretical frameworks for understanding healthcare access and disparities: This topic explores the theoretical models that can be used to understand healthcare access and disparities.
Healthcare systems and policy: This topic covers different healthcare systems and policies that affect healthcare access and disparities.
Demographic and social factors: This topic explores the impact of demographics, social determinants of health, and cultural factors on healthcare access and disparities.
Geographic factors: This topic covers how geography affects healthcare access and disparities, such as the availability and distribution of healthcare facilities, transportation barriers, and rural-urban differences.
Healthcare utilization and outcomes: This topic explores how healthcare utilization and outcomes vary based on factors such as race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
Health literacy and communication: This topic covers how health literacy, language barriers, and communication issues can affect healthcare access and disparities.
Health promotion and prevention: This topic explores how health promotion and prevention strategies can help address healthcare access and disparities.
Health technology and innovation: This topic covers the use of technology, telemedicine, and innovative healthcare models to improve healthcare access and address disparities.
The role of healthcare providers and workforce diversity: This topic examines the role of healthcare providers in addressing healthcare access and disparities, including the importance of workforce diversity and cultural competency.
Geographic disparities: Differences in access to healthcare based on where people live. People who live in rural or remote areas may have limited access to healthcare compared to those who live in urban areas.
Economic disparities: Differences in access to healthcare based on income, wealth, or socioeconomic status. The cost of healthcare services and insurance may prevent low-income individuals from accessing healthcare services.
Racial and ethnic disparities: Differences in access to healthcare based on race, ethnicity, or cultural background. People from marginalized racial and ethnic groups may experience discrimination or cultural barriers that limit their access to healthcare services.
Gender disparities: Differences in access to healthcare based on gender. There may be differences in healthcare services available to women and men, and women may face limited access to reproductive health services.
Age disparities: Differences in access to healthcare based on age. Older individuals may have more health problems and require more healthcare services, and may face limited access to specialists and preventative services.
Language and literacy barriers: Differences in access to healthcare based on language or literacy. Individuals who do not speak the dominant language or have limited literacy may struggle to understand medical information or communicate with healthcare providers.
Cultural and religious disparities: Differences in access to healthcare based on cultural or religious beliefs. Some individuals may avoid certain medical treatments or procedures based on cultural or religious beliefs.
Health insurance disparities: Differences in access to healthcare based on health insurance coverage. Individuals without health insurance may have difficulty accessing basic healthcare services.
"Individuals who have consistently been deprived of these three determinants are significantly disadvantaged from health inequities, and face worse health outcomes than those who are able to access certain resources."
"It is not equity to simply provide every individual with the same resources; that would be equality."
"In order to achieve health equity, resources must be allocated based on an individual need-based principle."
"According to the World Health Organization, 'Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity'."
"Health is a basic human right and human need, and all human rights are interconnected."
"Health equity is defined by the CDC as 'the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health'."
"It is closely associated with the social justice movement, with good health considered a fundamental human right."
"These inequities may include differences in the 'presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to health care': 3 between populations with a different race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status."
"Health inequality is the term used in a number of countries to refer to those instances whereby the health of two demographic groups (not necessarily ethnic or racial groups) differs despite similar access to health care services."
"It can be further described as differences in health that are avoidable, unfair, and unjust, and cannot be explained by natural causes, such as biology, or differences in choice."
"Thus, if one population dies younger than another because of genetic differences, a non-remediable/controllable factor, we tend to say that there is a health inequality."
"On the other hand, if a population has a lower life expectancy due to a lack of access to medications, the situation would be classified as a health inequity."
"These inequities may include differences in the 'presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to health care'."
"Although it is important to recognize the difference in health equity and equality, having equality in health is essential to begin achieving health equity."
"The importance of equitable access to healthcare has been cited as crucial to achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals."