Regardless of which country you consider, when you look into how healthy someone is, you’re likely to uncover a few common social factors that play into the equation, such as income level, education, employment, gender, and ethnicity. Unfortunately, in most cases, marginalized groups, immigrants, and refugees are affected disproportionately by the plagues of health inequity.
On a global scale, health inequity is an issue that has been gaining more traction in recent years, yet its importance has been overlooked by mainstream public health for decades. For that reason, we are still only just beginning to scratch the surface of health inequity and the lasting effects that it will have in the future. This article looks closely at health inequity and explores the issue’s root causes.
What is Health Inequity?
Health inequity is the unequal distribution of health risks and outcomes across different populations. It is a systemic problem rooted in social, economic, and environmental factors. While health inequities affect everyone differently, they disproportionately affect marginalized groups, including immigrants, refugees, and ethnic minorities.
There’s no question that disparities in quality health care are a serious global issue that must be addressed to ensure a healthier future for all. By recognizing the need for a holistic approach to health and investing in social and medical interventions, we can begin to reduce health disparities and improve the outcome for everyone affected by it.
Research indicates that it is not individual traits responsible for health inequities but rather a combination of financial hardship and social circumstances. Many factors have been proposed as explanations. However, the evidence demonstrates a definitive link between these two conditions and disparity in well-being, which can be linked to the quality of care one receives.
Who Is Affected By Health Inequity?
It is evident that marginalization, as a system of social positioning, can lead to various vulnerabilities among immigrants. In order to gain a better understanding of the issue, we must consider how relationships and the factors shaping them could affect someone’s ability to access and utilize resources for health-related needs.
Health inequity is a global challenge that affects all of us in one way or another, but it undoubtedly affects marginalized groups such as immigrants, refugees, and ethnic minorities disproportionately. Because health inequity is defined as the unfair and avoidable differences in health status across groups of people, often based on social and economic factors, it’s no surprise that certain groups of people are at a greater risk of developing ill health due to their social circumstances.
Let’s take a look at some examples to get a clearer idea of the victims of health inequity.
It is heartbreaking to think that, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), every single day, 16,000 young children do not make it to see their fifth birthday. Pneumonia, malaria, and diarrhea are some of the most common causes of these tragically premature deaths – particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the risk of dying before age five is 14 times higher than anywhere else. Within this region alone, those from rural and poorer households remain more likely to suffer such a fate. Statistics show that kids in households with the lowest income bracket are almost double as likely as those in the wealthiest families.
Health inequity affects every country in the world, regardless of how developed it is. For example, those belonging to marginalized groups across the United States suffer from comparatively worse health outcomes for numerous medical conditions. Examples include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, heart disease, cancer, and preterm birth. An alarming statistic reveals that Black people are expected to live four fewer years than White people in the US. This statistic can be directly linked to the social disparities that can be witnessed across the board.
What Causes Health Inequity?
When the WHO was established in 1948, it was hoped that this would lead to action on global health equity and attention to the social causes of health (Friel, Marmot). Unfortunately, this did not happen, and instead, a biotech approach was prioritized to address the world’s health problems. This means that marginalized groups have been left behind regarding access to quality health care and other health-related services.
As a result, the root causes of health inequity are complex and multi-faceted. Some of the most common causes include poverty and lack of access to essential health services, discrimination and exclusion based on race, gender, or other social factors, and inadequate health infrastructure in certain regions. In addition, environmental factors such as air pollution, water contamination, and inadequate housing can also contribute to health disparities.
But, when you boil it down, you can see that health inequity is a global issue that is deeply entrenched in structural racism, colonialism, and classism. These inequities are further compounded by the fact that people from marginalized communities are typically underserved by existing health systems. For example, people of color are more likely to receive inadequate medical care, face discrimination in healthcare settings, and have less access to preventive health services. Immigrants and refugees also often experience language barriers, cultural stigma, and limited access to health care.
What Are The Consequences of Health Inequity?
The consequences of health inequity are far-reaching and have severe implications for individuals, families, communities, and countries as a whole.
People in marginalized communities are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses, mental health issues, and infectious diseases due to inadequate access to health care, clean water and air, healthy food, and safe housing. This impacts their quality of life, educational and job opportunities, and overall well-being.
Stretching further, countries themselves bear an additional burden when it comes to unfair healthcare. The European Parliament calculated that losses due to health disparities add up to approximately 1.4% of the European Union’s gross domestic product (GDP) – a number comparable to their total spending on defense (1.6% of GDP). These deficits are composed of decreases in productivity and tax income, as well as higher welfare expenditures and medical bills.
Addressing Health Inequity
In order to address health inequity, we must first recognize and address the underlying causes of these disparities. This includes investing in public health systems to ensure that all people have access to quality health care. It also means addressing systemic racism and colonialism and investing in policies that promote economic and racial justice.
We must also work to create more inclusive public health programs that are tailored to the needs of marginalized populations, including immigrants and refugees. This includes providing a translator if needed and ensuring access to resources and education on how the healthcare system works in their host country and how they can access it effectively.
Finally, we must work to make sure that all individuals have access to clean air, water, and food. This includes investing in green energy solutions, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and investing in water and sanitation infrastructure in disadvantaged communities.
By recognizing and addressing the root causes of health inequity, we can create a healthier, more equitable world.
