HEALTH DISPARITIES DEFINITION
HEALTH DISPARITIES WITH EXAMPLES
These disparities disproportionately affect minority populations, low‐income individuals and other vulnerable groups, such as the ALICE population, leading to significant health inequities. ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed and represents the nearly 500,000 households in the National Capital Area who earn above the Federal Poverty Line, but still cannot afford to meet their basic needs.
Read on to better understand health disparities and learn how we can achieve a more equitable health care system that provides equal opportunities for all individuals to attain optimal health and well‐being.
HEALTH DISPARITIES DEFINITION
According to the CDC, health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence or opportunities to achieve optimal health that socially disadvantaged populations experience.
One way to understand health disparities is through United Way of the National Capital Area’ s ALICE Reports. ALICE individuals and families work but struggle to afford necessities such as housing, food, childcare, health care and transportation. ALICE Reports provide valuable insights into the financial challenges faced by these individuals and the impact of those challenges on their health.
Numerous factors contribute to health disparities, and socioeconomic status plays a significant role. Socioeconomic factors, such as income, education, occupation and housing, influence an individual’ s ability to access quality health care services.
Those with lower socioeconomic status often face barriers like limited health insurance coverage, inadequate health care facilities in their communities and financial constraints that prevent them from seeking timely medical care. These barriers can lead to delayed diagnoses, poorer treatment outcomes and ultimately contribute to health disparities.
Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or other marginalized identities also contributes to health disparities. It can lead to bias in health care delivery, lower quality of care and limited access to health care resources for minority populations.
Systemic racism, which encompasses historical and ongoing societal structures and policies perpetuating racial inequalities, profoundly impacts health outcomes.
HEALTH DISPARITIES WITH EXAMPLES
Marginalized communities face a disproportionate disadvantage when it comes to disease and illness. This is evident in higher rates of chronic conditions, maternal mortality and mental health disparities. Socioeconomic factors play a significant role, as minorities often experience lower incomes, limited access to health care services and higher poverty rates. This can result in inadequate health care coverage, delayed diagnoses and limited preventive care.