Health Equity for Marginalised Communities: Access to quality healthcare should...
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Health Equity for Marginalised Communities: Access to quality healthcare should...
Read MoreAcross many countries in Africa, gaps in health are large, persistent and increasing—many of them caused by barriers set up at all levels of our society. Health equity means increasing opportunities for everyone to live the healthiest life possible, no matter who we are, where we live, or their sexual orientation.
Equality in healthcare is an admirable goal, but it’s still not enough. Barriers to access and education create inequity in health outcomes. Removing those barriers is an essential step in achieving equity. While some advocate for healthcare equality, this doesn’t go far enough. There are social factors that can affect health outcomes. Treating everyone equally may not provide certain groups with the care they need. Inequality in healthcare can often lead to disparities in health outcomes. For example, a 2020 report from the Center for American Progress found that 18% of transgender adults said a doctor had refused to see them because of their gender identity. This inequality of care and denial of access led to 28% of transgender respondents avoiding or postponing necessary medical care. Black people often receive unequal treatment for managing pain. According to a 2016 study by trusted Sources, misconceptions about race may cause some doctors to not treat Black people for their pain, or to treat them with a lower dose of medication. The same bias may exist for female patients versus male patients, reports a 2021 study.
According to the Milken Institute School of Public Health, health equality means giving everyone the same resources, regardless of their background or circumstances.
In practice, this means everyone should receive the same access to care, health resources, health education, and so on. Health equality suggests everyone has the same opportunities for positive health outcomes. It assumes all people receive equal treatment.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Trusted Source defines health equity as reaching “the highest level of health for all people.” It means giving everyone the support they need to access the same level of medical care and education. Health equity involves providing care catered toward an individual or group to help them achieve the same health outcome as someone in another group. This could mean:
A doctor alters treatment for someone who does not have regular access to nutritious food. In an equitable approach, a doctor would consider nonmedical factors that affect health outcomes. These are called Sources. Experts group these factors into five categories Trusted Source:
Healthcare: What is your level of access to care? What is the quality of your care?
Education: What is your education level? What is your access to the information?
Social and community life: What is your level of involvement and acceptance in your community? Do you face discrimination because of your status?
Economic stability: What are your financial resources? Do you have employment, housing, and access to food?
Neighbourhood: Does where you live do affect your health, safety, and access to vital resources?
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that social determinants of health account for 30% to 55%Trusted Source of health outcomes.