HEALTH DISPARITIES

What are disparities in health?

Race or ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, age, disability,
socioeconomic status, and geographic location all contribute
to an individuals ability to achieve good health.
Healthy People 2020
Most Affected Patient Populations
Racial and ethnic minorities
Residents of rural areas
Women, children, and the elderly
Persons with disabilities (cognitive, sensory, or physical)
LGBTQ community members
Socioeconomically disadvantaged
Religious affiliation
Any other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion
(US Department of Health and Human Services, 2014)

Where do health disparities come from?

Systematic racism,
sexism, ageism,
ableism, and
discrimination
based on
socioeconomic
status, religious
identity or
sexuality, are all
inextricably linked
to the ongoing
persistence of

Social justice issues extend

beyond simply the maltreatment
of individuals, but how minorities
are able to live their daily lives
Access to education
Safe homes and
transportation
Quality food and clean water
Health

Disparities in care
persist because social
justice issues persist

How are these disparities changing?

Quality
Status: Fair
70% of

recommended care
is actually receieved
Change over time:

Getting Better
Areas Improving:
Hospital Care
Adolescent Vaccines

Areas Lagging:
Ambulatory
Diabetes
Maternal and Child

Health

Figure 1. Average proportion of

recommended care received across a panel
of quality of care measures, 2005-2010

How are these disparities changing?

Access
Status: Fair
26% of minorities who

actively seek out care

find difficulties in
finding it
Change over time:

Getting Worse
Areas Improving:
Availability of

Providers by
Telephone
Areas Lagging:
Private Health

Insurance Coverage

Changes in Disparities

Changes in Disparities

Changes in Disparities

How Disparities Affect Cincinnati

Members of our UC community are working to eliminate

the disparities present in Cincinnati

Africana Studies Assistant Professor Edward Wallace is a liaison

with Closing the Health Gap which is an organization here in

Cincinnati that looks at reducing and eliminating obesity in our local
community.
Despite his expertise, Dr. Wallace believes that people in the
community surrounded by health issues day in and day out are the
real experts.
Get out amongst the community and into their everyday lives. Its
not until we engage with each other and other people in unique,
meaningful and valuable ways that we will be able to reduce health
disparities and create a world that we all want and deserve.
http://closingthehealthgap.org/

Factors that Contribute to an Elimination of Health

Disparities
A high-quality education
Nutritious food
Decent and safe housing
Affordable, reliable public transportation
Culturally sensitive health care providers
Health insurance
Clean water and unpolluted air

(US Department of Health and Human Services, 2014)

Steps to Take / Discussion

How can we solve the roots of the problemhow can we

address the issues which confer unequal healthcare on

people of minority status?
Changes in education
What small steps can be taken on a daily basis?
What advocacy work can we focus on?

How will does and will our GlobeMed chapter continue to

work for equal healthcare for all?

In what ways does this discussion of healthcare disparities
in the United States relate to our partnership with SAW
and their work on the Burma-Thai border?
What factors affect differences in healthcare equality seen in these

two locations?