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In the U.S. health system, various determinants and factors such as income, race, education, gender, sexuality, and even zip code significantly influence our health outcomes. These factors affect how healthy we are, the frequency and severity of illnesses, our access to care, and even our life expectancy.
Consider these stats:
- Non-Hispanic Blacks/African Americans have 2.4 times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites.
- The most affluent members of society have an average life expectancy 10 to 15 years greater than the poorest.
- The rates for each of the 10 leading causes of death in 2019 were higher in rural than in urban areas.
Health inequities predominantly manifest along lines of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. These inequities stem from underlying disparities in access to healthcare and community resources, influenced by social determinants of health (SDoH) and structural and political determinants. Structural racism, historical trauma, and implicit bias contribute to the inequities, which unnecessarily drive up health care costs and compromise population health.