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. 2014 Jan-Feb;129 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):5-8.
doi: 10.1177/00333549141291S203.

What are health disparities and health equity? We need to be clear

Paula Braveman  1
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Center on Social Disparities in Health, San Francisco, CA.

What are health disparities and health equity? We need to be clear

Paula Braveman. Public Health Rep. 2014 Jan-Feb.
. 2014 Jan-Feb;129 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):5-8.
doi: 10.1177/00333549141291S203.

Author

Paula Braveman  1

Affiliation

  • 1 University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Center on Social Disparities in Health, San Francisco, CA.

Abstract

"Health disparities" and "health equity" have become increasingly familiar terms in public health, but rarely are they defined explicitly. Ambiguity in the definitions of these terms could lead to misdirection of resources. This article discusses the need for greater clarity about the concepts of health disparities and health equity, proposes definitions, and explains the rationale based on principles from the fields of ethics and human rights.

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References

    1. Carter-Pokras O, Baquet C. What is a “health disparity”? Public Health Rep. 2002;117:426–34. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Braveman PA, Kumanyika S, Fielding J, Laveist T, Borrell LN, Manderscheid R, et al. Health disparities and health equity: the issue is justice. Am J Public Health. 2011;101(Suppl 1):S149–55. - PMC - PubMed
    1. HealthyPeople.gov. Disparities [cited 2012 Nov 20] Available from: URL: http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/disparitiesAbout.aspx.
    1. Adler NE, Stewart J, editors. The biology of disadvantage: socioeconomic status and health. Hoboken (NJ): John Wiley & Sons; 2010. - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization, Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Geneva: WHO; 2008. Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. CSDH final report.

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