HEALTH INEQUITIES
INTRODUCTION:
There are wide differences in the health status within countries as well as between countries. Some of the differences can be explained through biological variations. However most of the differences arise from underlying social and economic conditions. This disparity in health is one of the most serious public health problems. Health inequities are defined as variations in health status that are not only avoidable and unnecessary but also unjust and unfair (Whitehead M., 1990). However different people will have different interpretation of the term unjust and unfair, a more precise definition that would operationalize based on measurable criteria is needed. One such definition that helps in operationalizing and measuring health equity was given by Braveman. According to this definition equity in health is absence of systematic differences in health between social groups who have different level of underlying social advantage/disadvantage that is, different position in social hierarchy (Braveman, P., & Gruskin, S.,2003)
DISTINGUISHING HEALTH INEQUALITY AND …show more content…
All health inequalities are not health inequity. For example in a country where there is no gender bias, life expectancy of female is more than that of male. Health status of young people is better than that of old people. These health disparities are due to biological variation. These inequalities are inevitable but not unjust. Thus they cannot be considered as health inequities. However when a person adopts health damaging behavior such as poor nutrition due to constricted lifestyle, this disparity is not only avoidable and unnecessary but also unjust. Overcrowded places, poor sanitation; and poor living and working condition results in health outcomes which are worse than health outcomes of other people. Such inequalities in health amount are health inequities. Thus, health equity has a moral
INTRODUCTION:
There are wide differences in the health status within countries as well as between countries. Some of the differences can be explained through biological variations. However most of the differences arise from underlying social and economic conditions. This disparity in health is one of the most serious public health problems. Health inequities are defined as variations in health status that are not only avoidable and unnecessary but also unjust and unfair (Whitehead M., 1990). However different people will have different interpretation of the term unjust and unfair, a more precise definition that would operationalize based on measurable criteria is needed. One such definition that helps in operationalizing and measuring health equity was given by Braveman. According to this definition equity in health is absence of systematic differences in health between social groups who have different level of underlying social advantage/disadvantage that is, different position in social hierarchy (Braveman, P., & Gruskin, S.,2003)
DISTINGUISHING HEALTH INEQUALITY AND …show more content…
All health inequalities are not health inequity. For example in a country where there is no gender bias, life expectancy of female is more than that of male. Health status of young people is better than that of old people. These health disparities are due to biological variation. These inequalities are inevitable but not unjust. Thus they cannot be considered as health inequities. However when a person adopts health damaging behavior such as poor nutrition due to constricted lifestyle, this disparity is not only avoidable and unnecessary but also unjust. Overcrowded places, poor sanitation; and poor living and working condition results in health outcomes which are worse than health outcomes of other people. Such inequalities in health amount are health inequities. Thus, health equity has a moral