Health Disparities

Synonyms

Health inequalities; Health inequities

Definition

A health disparity is defined as an observed difference in health outcomes (e.g., diabetes) or health status between the most advantaged group in a given category (e.g., the wealthiest) and all other groups in that category. Observed differences in the health outcomes are not only limited to differences between better- and-worse-off groups, given they reflect varying levels of social advantage and disadvantage (Braveman, 2006).

Description

The term “health disparity” is often times used interchangeably with the terms “health inequality” or “health inequity.” The use of “health disparity” is most common in the United States, whereas the other terms are most often used outside of the United States (Carter-Pokras & Baquet, 2002). The underlying distinction between these terms is that the latter ones distinguish between health differences that are unfair, unjust, and unavoidable. To illustrate, differences in health among men and...