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Questions and Answers
What are health disparities, and what factors can contribute to these differences?
Health disparities are measurable differences in health outcomes among different population groups, often influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and geographic location.
How do health inequities differ from health disparities?
Health inequities are systematic, avoidable inequalities in health resulting from social injustice, while health disparities refer to measurable differences among population groups.
What does the life expectancy indicator reveal about health disparities?
The life expectancy indicator reveals that marginalized groups may have lower life expectancy due to poor access to healthcare and higher prevalence of chronic diseases.
How can infant mortality rates illustrate health inequities within populations?
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What role does healthcare access and insurance coverage play in creating health inequities?
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Why are preventive care utilization rates important indicators of health disparities?
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Identify one reliable source for health data and one unreliable source, explaining the difference.
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What are social determinants of health (SDOH) and their significance in public health?
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What are Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), and why are they important?
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Define parity in the context of healthcare.
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List two key indicators of Economic Stability and explain their significance.
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How did Henrietta Lacks' socioeconomic status impact her healthcare access?
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In what way did education access affect Henrietta Lacks' health literacy?
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What role did social support networks play in the healthcare experience of Henrietta Lacks?
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Identify one strategy to address health problems faced by marginalized communities.
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Explain the significance of measuring progress toward health parity.
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Study Notes
Health Disparities vs. Health Inequities
- Health Disparities: Measurable differences in health outcomes across different populations, often attributed to factors like socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or location.
- Health Inequities: Systematic, avoidable inequalities in health resulting from social injustice and discrimination. They are rooted in social determinants of health which lead to the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities.
Key Health Disparity Indicators
- Life Expectancy: Lower life expectancy among marginalized groups due to lack of healthcare access and heightened chronic disease prevalence.
- Infant Mortality Rates: Higher infant mortality rates in specific populations due to limited access to prenatal care or poor maternal health.
- Morbidity and Mortality Rates: Higher rates in certain demographics tied to systemic issues like healthcare access limitations.
- Healthcare Access & Insurance Coverage: Inequities arise when specific groups, often based on socioeconomic status, face limited access to healthcare insurance and services.
- Preventive Care Utilization: Disparities in utilization rates indicate inequities in health education and access.
Data Sources Reliability
- Reliable Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Unreliable Sources: Anecdotal reports, unverified online sources, and biased surveys.
Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)
- Definition: Conditions in which people are born, live, work, and age, affecting health outcomes.
- Factors: Socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to healthcare.
SDOH Domains and Indicators
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Economic Stability:
- Key Indicator: Unemployment rate
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Education Access and Quality:
- Key Indicator: High school graduation rates
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Healthcare Access and Quality:
- Key Indicator: Number of primary care providers per capita
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Neighborhood and Built Environment:
- Key Indicator: Access to healthy foods (food deserts)
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Social and Community Context:
- Key Indicator: Levels of community engagement
Achieving Health Parity
- Parity: Achieving equal access to healthcare services and equitable health outcomes for all populations.
- Assessing Progress: Tracking trends indicating a decrease in health disparities across indicators, such as reduced infant mortality rates or improved preventive care access in underserved communities.
Henrietta Lacks and Social Determinants of Health
- Henrietta Lacks: African American woman diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 1950s. Her cells, taken without consent, became HeLa cells and greatly advanced medical research.
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Impact of SDOH:
- Economic Stability: Lacks worked in a low-paying job, limiting her access to comprehensive medical care.
- Education Access: Limited education hindered her health literacy and ability to navigate the healthcare system.
- Healthcare Access: Racial discrimination in healthcare led to unequal treatment, as she received care in segregated hospitals.
Strategies to Address Health Problems
- Community Support: Lacks' family relied on social networks to seek information about treatment options.
- Healthcare System Navigation: Despite barriers, Lacks' family sought to advocate for her care.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the differences between health disparities and health inequities. Explore key indicators such as life expectancy, infant mortality rates, and healthcare access. Understand the social determinants that contribute to these health outcomes.