LibGuides: Disparities in Healthcare: Health Inequities

Health Inequities

Health inequities are systematic differences in the health status of different population groups. These inequities have significant social and economic costs both to individuals and society. There is ample evidence that social factors, including education, employment status, income level, gender and ethnicity have a marked influence on how healthy a person is. (World Health Organization)

This guide offers resources that discuss disparities among population groups in the United States which are critical in providing equal access to healthcare services.

Resources on Health Disparities and COVID-19

COVID-19 and it's Impact on Latinx communities (1:28:18 minutes)
The Impact of COVID-19 on Kids (1:17:25)
Native American Health and COVID-19 (1:28:42)
Mental Health and Wellness for Healthcare Providers (1:14:50)

Global Health and Social Medicine: A COVID-19 Series

National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report

National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Reports
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality annually reports on progress and opportunities for improving healthcare quality and reducing healthcare disparities. The National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report presents trends for measures related to access to care, affordable care, care coordination, effective treatment, healthy living, patient safety, and person-centered care.

CDC: Healthy People

Healthy People 2030
Healthy People 2020 Final Review
Social Determinants of Health Economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context.

Defining and measuring disparities, inequities, and inequalities in the Healthy People initiative

Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity

KFF - Health Policy Anaylsis

Disparities in Health and Health Care: Five Key Questions and Answers

Healthcare disparities in the US

Media

World's Most Dangerous Drug (3:03 minutes) National Geographic's program on methamphetamines (3:03 minutes)
Beyond the Cloud (1:05:55) Documentary about vaping.
Prescription Thugs 2015 (1:25:59)
The Beast is in the Labrynth (audiobook)

The House I Live In

The House I Live In 2012 (1:48:49) A look into America's criminal justice system, revealing the profound human rights implications of the U.S. Drug Policy.

13th

Defining Hope

TEDx Talks

How Racism Makes Us Sick (17:29) Dr. David Williams

Social Determinants of Health (17:56 minutes)
Health Inequity: America's Chronic Condition? (12:01)
Health Equity in the 21st Century (18:13)
The Problem with Race-Based Medicine (14:36)
How to Start a Conversation about Suicide (12:09)

Selected articles by Dr. David Williams (Harvard)

Racism and Health: Evidence and Needed Research
Williams DR, Lawrence JA, Davis BA. Racism and Health: Evidence and Needed Research. Annu Rev Public Health. 2019 Apr 1;40:105-125. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040218-043750. Epub 2019 Feb 2. PMID: 30601726; PMCID: PMC6532402.
Reducing Racial Inequities in Health: Using What We Already Know to Take Action.
Williams DR, Cooper LA. Reducing Racial Inequities in Health: Using What We Already Know to Take Action. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Feb 19;16(4):606. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16040606. PMID: 30791452; PMCID: PMC6406315.
Racial disparities in health among nonpoor African Americans and Hispanics: The role of acute and chronic discrimination.
Colen CG, Ramey DM, Cooksey EC, Williams DR. Racial disparities in health among nonpoor African Americans and Hispanics: The role of acute and chronic discrimination. Soc Sci Med. 2018 Feb;199:167-180. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.04.051. Epub 2017 May 6. PMID: 28571900; PMCID: PMC5673593.
Stress and the Mental Health of Populations of Color: Advancing Our Understanding of Race-related Stressors
Williams DR. Stress and the Mental Health of Populations of Color: Advancing Our Understanding of Race-related Stressors. J Health Soc Behav. 2018 Dec;59(4):466-485. doi: 10.1177/0022146518814251. PMID: 30484715; PMCID: PMC6532404.
Understanding associations among race, socioeconomic status, and health: Patterns and prospects.
Williams DR, Priest N, Anderson NB. Understanding associations among race, socioeconomic status, and health: Patterns and prospects. Health Psychol. 2016 Apr;35(4):407-11. doi: 10.1037/hea0000242. PMID: 27018733; PMCID: PMC4817358.

Mateo CM, Williams DR. Addressing Bias and Reducing Discrimination: The Professional Responsibility of Health Care Provides. Acad Med. 2020 Dec;95 doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000003683. PMID:32889919.

Disparities in Healthcare

Related Research Guides

Tips on searching for articles in Nursing & Health Databases