WHat is Health Equity?
Definitions
Health equity
Fairness in the distribution of resources between groups with differing levels of social and economic status; an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to be healthy
-Healthiest Wisconsin 2020
Health disparities
Any differences in health outcomes between groups of people (men vs. women, young vs. old)
Social determinants of health (SDoH)
Where one is born, lives, learns, works, and plays matters to health
-Marmot, 2008, World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health
Health in All Policies approach
“Health is fundamental to every sector of our economy. Factors outside the health care system often play a large role in determining one’s health status; therefore, not all determents of health can be controlled by policies within the health sector. In turn, better health boosts economic growth.”
-The Aspen Institute
Social gradient
The poorest of the poor have the worst health, those in the middle have medium health, while the richest have the best health. Health inequities affect everyone.
-The World Health Organization
Social justice
The idea that society should allow all members, regardless of their background, basic human rights and equal access to their community’s wealth and resources
-The World Health Organization
Non-medical case management
“Those services which include the provision of advice and assistance in obtaining medical, social, community, legal, financial, and other needed services. It does not include coordination and follow up of medical treatment”
-US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). 2009 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act-2006)
Fairness in the distribution of resources between groups with differing levels of social and economic status; an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to be healthy
-Healthiest Wisconsin 2020
Health disparities
Any differences in health outcomes between groups of people (men vs. women, young vs. old)
Social determinants of health (SDoH)
Where one is born, lives, learns, works, and plays matters to health
-Marmot, 2008, World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health
Health in All Policies approach
“Health is fundamental to every sector of our economy. Factors outside the health care system often play a large role in determining one’s health status; therefore, not all determents of health can be controlled by policies within the health sector. In turn, better health boosts economic growth.”
-The Aspen Institute
Social gradient
The poorest of the poor have the worst health, those in the middle have medium health, while the richest have the best health. Health inequities affect everyone.
-The World Health Organization
Social justice
The idea that society should allow all members, regardless of their background, basic human rights and equal access to their community’s wealth and resources
-The World Health Organization
Non-medical case management
“Those services which include the provision of advice and assistance in obtaining medical, social, community, legal, financial, and other needed services. It does not include coordination and follow up of medical treatment”
-US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB). 2009 Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act-2006)
Health impact of the social determinants
Social and physical determinants affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality of life outcomes. For example:
1) Access to parks and safe sidewalks for walking is associated with physical activity in adults.
2) Education is associated with:
*Longer life expectancy
*Improved health and quality of life
5) Health-promoting behaviors like getting regular physical activity, not smoking, and going for routine checkups and recommended screenings.
6) Discrimination, stigma, or unfair treatment in the workplace can have a profound impact on health; discrimination can increase blood pressure, heart rate, and stress, as well as undermine self-esteem and self-efficacy.
7) Family and community rejection, including bullying, of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth can have serious and long-term health impacts including depression, use of illegal drugs, and suicidal behavior.
8) Places where people live and eat affect their diet. More than 23 million people, including 6.5 million children, live in “food deserts”—neighborhoods that lack access to stores where affordable, healthy food is readily available (such as full-service supermarkets and grocery stores).
[Source: HP2020]
1) Access to parks and safe sidewalks for walking is associated with physical activity in adults.
2) Education is associated with:
*Longer life expectancy
*Improved health and quality of life
5) Health-promoting behaviors like getting regular physical activity, not smoking, and going for routine checkups and recommended screenings.
6) Discrimination, stigma, or unfair treatment in the workplace can have a profound impact on health; discrimination can increase blood pressure, heart rate, and stress, as well as undermine self-esteem and self-efficacy.
7) Family and community rejection, including bullying, of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth can have serious and long-term health impacts including depression, use of illegal drugs, and suicidal behavior.
8) Places where people live and eat affect their diet. More than 23 million people, including 6.5 million children, live in “food deserts”—neighborhoods that lack access to stores where affordable, healthy food is readily available (such as full-service supermarkets and grocery stores).
[Source: HP2020]
Follow these links to learn more about what health equity is: