The Importance of Health Equity
There are large, persistent, and growing health disparities across the country, many of which are the
result of barriers erected at all levels of society. After all, it is difficult to be healthy if you do not have
access to good jobs, schools, and safe, affordable housing. Health equity entails expanding
opportunities for everyone to live as healthy a life as possible, regardless of who you are, where you
live, or how much money you make. In other words, health equity focuses on reducing and eventually
eliminating health disparities, as well as the negative effects they have on excluded or excluded
groups.
What Impacts Health Equity?
The conditions under which people are born, grow, live, work and age go a long way to shape their
health status. These conditions are called social determinants of health, and they directly impact
health equity.
Social determinants of health include:
1. Economic stability
Economic stability is interconnected to employment status and the ability to earn consistent, long-term
income. It's main factors include:
● Job opportunities and working conditions
● Food safety and accessibility
● Homes that are both safe and cost effective
● Income/poverty, as well as resources
2. Food
Access to food, particularly nutritious food, is regarded as a major social determinant of health that
has a direct impact on a patient's well-being. Individuals who cannot afford or obtain high-quality
vitamin-rich foods are at risk of developing or aggravating chronic diseases.
3. Neighborhood and physical environment
People's health and well-being are greatly influenced by the neighborhoods in which they live. Many
people live in neighborhoods with high levels of violence, unsafe air or water, and other health and
safety risks. Racial/ethnic minorities and low-income people are more likely to live in areas with these
risks. Furthermore, some people are exposed to work-related hazards such as secondhand smoke or
loud noises, which can be harmful to their health.
Intervention and policy changes at the local, state, and federal levels can help reduce and promote
health and safety risks. It can, for example, increase safety while also improving health and quality of
life if people have more opportunities to walk and ride in their communities, such as by adding
sidewalks and biking trams.
4. Education
Individuals who have higher levels of education are more likely to be healthier than their counterparts
with lower levels of education. Children from low-income families, children with disabilities, and
children who are regularly subjected to forms of social discrimination, such as bullying, are more likely
to struggle with math and reading. They are also less likely to complete high school or attend college.
This means they are less likely to obtain secure, well-paying jobs and are more likely to suffer from
health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
Furthermore, some children live in areas with poor school performance, and many families cannot
afford to send their children to college. Poverty-related stress can also have an impact on children's
brain development, making it more difficult for them to succeed in school.
5. Health care access
One out of every ten people in the United States do not have health insurance. People who do not have
health insurance are less likely to have a primary care provider and are unable to afford medications
and health services. Strategies to increase insurance coverage are critical to ensuring that more
people have access to critical health services such as preventive care and chronic disease treatment.
People who do not have a primary care provider may miss out on recommended healthcare services
such as cancer screenings. Other times, this is due to the fact that the healthcare providers who
provide them are too far away.
6. Community and social context
Relationships and interactions with family, friends, coworkers, and community members can have a
significant impact on a person's health and well-being. Many people face challenges and risks over
which they have no control, such as unsafe areas, discrimination, or difficulty obtaining what they
require. This can have a long-term negative impact on one's health and safety.
Positive relationships at home, work, and in the community can help to mitigate these negative
effects. Some people, however, such as children in prison and young people who are bullied,
frequently lack support from loved ones or others. Some people do not receive assistance.
Interventions to assist people in obtaining the social support they require to improve their health and
well-being.
Why is it Important?
Health is a fundamental right of all people, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. You
can all work together to close the access gap to healthcare by raising awareness and educating people
about health inequities. Fighting health inequalities can help to improve community health because
many health concerns differ. For example, while African Americans make up only 22 percent of the
population in the United States, they account for 52 percent of COVID-19 diagnoses and have a 58
percent COVID-19 death rate.
African American, Latino, and Native American communities have higher diabetic death rates than
whites and are disproportionately affected by complications like kidney damage and shorter
amputations. They are more than twice as likely as whites to develop diabetes.
However, you must keep in mind that this is a complex problem that extends beyond solving one
problem at a time. Systemic changes, such as legislation or policies, that assist in empowering groups
confronted with health disparities and providing resources
How do you Achieve it?
In the race to achieving health equity, you must take several steps. They include:
● Take care of the needs of marginalized communities that face ongoing health challenges, such
as those who live in remote areas or lack easy access to medical facilities
● Attempt to change the policy! Health reform legislation (for example, the Accessible Care Act
of 2010) is critical in creating communities that allow people from diverse backgrounds to
thrive. Contact government members and encourage them to vote, sign petitions, and raise
public awareness!
● Create and maintain genuine relationships with community members who face persistent
health barriers, and collaborate with them. They must have a seat at the table, and you can
assist in amplifying their voices.
● Race is not the only factor influencing health equity. Recognize the overlap of issues that
contribute to social inequities, such as economic security and housing.
● Value all human life by emphasizing diversity and inclusion – and seek solutions to sexism,
classism, and racism.
Never before in modern history has the significance of developing and implementing solutions to
address health equity been more emphasized. Many significant efforts are being made to achieve
health equity. However, it takes work to promote fairer outcomes in order to create a fairer health-care
system that benefits everyone.
