Disparities in Minority Healthcare

Naman Pujeri, 5/30/24

Health disparities are gaps in the quality of health and healthcare that mirror differences in socio-economic status, racial and ethnic diversity and educational level. 

The CDC defines health disparities as "preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that socially disadvantaged population experience.”

Despite significant advancements in healthcare, disparities persist among marginalized populations in various countries. Improved access to healthcare has benefited many, but there are still profound gaps in health outcomes and the quality care and essential services. Health inequities affect minority populations, low-income families, and other vulnerable groups. Various factors contribute to health disparities and socioeconomic status plays a vital role. Income, education, occupation, and housing, influence a person’s ability to access quality health services. This becomes a barrier to various aspects such as limited health insurance coverage, inadequate health care facilities in their communities, and financial constraints which prevent them from availing timely health care. These can lead to delayed diagnosis, improper/poor treatment and ultimately lead to disparities. The populations that are affected include racial and ethnic minorities, people residing in various geographic areas, women, children, older individuals, and people with disabilities. Hence as an effect of this, some populations have higher rates of disease as compared with the general population. 

These health account for significant costs to states and communities. According to a 2018 study by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Altarum, health disparities cost 42 billion dollars in lower productivity and 93 billion dollars in excess medical costs each year. 

Communities of color, rural areas, people with cognitive and physical disabilities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ are often disproportionately exposed to conditions and environments that negatively affect health and lead to disparities. Continuous research is needed to determine where disparities exist so successful interventions can be designed to address the issues. It is acceptable when we say our genetic makeup, our environment, our social and economic context and our personal behaviors as well contribute to differing the health status. However, when the health status of a population and/or a community is impacted by various circumstances that are unfair, mere differences in health status must be thought of as unjust disparities in health status. Even when income, health insurance, and access to care are accounted for, disparities remain. Disproportionately poor health outcomes – in areas such as infant mortality, life expectancy, and prevalence of chronic disease—reveal differences by race and ethnicity independent of other factors. For example, Black people have higher rates of high blood pressure and tend to develop this diagnosis at an earlier age than other racial groups. Similarly, Blacks and Hispanic people are more likely to suffer strokes. 

Timely access to care is important for ensuring desirable health outcomes, reducing the financial burden from seeking non-network care and possibly more distant healthcare, and improving patients’ perception of need.