A difference in health or health status between groups of people defined by social factors such as ethnicity, gender, social class, etc. Health inequity describes a difference in health or health status between groups that can be avoided or changed, but is also considered unfair or unjust (see M. Whitehead: The concepts and principles of equity and health. Health Promotion International 1991;6(3):217-28). Health equity, then, is a situation in which all people have the opportunity to attain the best health possible and avoidable differences in health are minimized.
« Back to Glossary IndexHEALTH INEQUALITY
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