Essay On Health Disparity

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word disparity means the quality or state of being different. It listed synonyms of disparities such contrast, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, diversity, otherness, and unlikeness. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defined the word disparity as a great difference. This source stated that the term disparity was originated in the 1550’s and derived from the Latin word paritas, the Late Latin word disparitatem, and the French word disparite. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary had divergence, gap, gulf, and imbalance as synonyms for the word disparity. The Cambridge Dictionary defined disparity as a lack of equality and similarity, especially in a way that is not fair. The Business Dictionary defined disparity as a situation in which two or more things are not equal or similar, especially when this is thought to be unfair. The term disparity is not only used in healthcare but in other professions as well such as architecture, crime, politics, and even relationships. …show more content…
Health disparities can end in poor health outcomes for persons and populations (Butts & Rich, 2016). The defining attributes of the concept of disparities include:
• Difference: something that splits a group from a reference point on a precise measure of health that is expressed in terms of a rate, proportion, mean, or some other numerical measure. Research question: Is there a difference in health status rates between population groups?
• Inequity: A difference in the sharing or allocation of a resource between groups.
• Research question: Is the disparity in rates due to differences in social, economic, environmental or healthcare