Health Equity 101 An Introduction to Health Equity June 26,
2013
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MDH and Health Equity: Why Health Equity Matters? Minnesota
rates as one of the healthiest states in the U.S. yet has
significant health disparities among certain populations. Aligns
with Healthy Minnesota Vision: All people in Minnesota enjoy
healthy lives and healthy communities. Broadens the focus of public
health in addressing key upstream health determinants that shape
where people live, play, work, and learn.
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Objectives 1.Define health equity and related terms 2.Explain
the importance of health equity as a key public health issue
3.Illustrate health disparities and inequities in Minnesota
4.Explain what is a health equity lens and how it can be useful to
your work
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Health Equity: Definitions Health Equity - Attainment of the
highest level of health possible for all people. Achieving health
equity requires valuing everyone with focused and ongoing societal
efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and
contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health disparities
and health care disparities. Health Inequity- Differences in health
status between more and less socially and economically advantaged
groups, caused by systematic differences in social conditions and
processes that effectively determine health. Health inequities are
avoidable, unjust, and therefore actionable.
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Health Equity: Definitions Health Disparities - Differences in
the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of disease and
other adverse health conditions that exist between specific
population groups. Social Determinants of Health - Conditions found
in the physical, cultural, social, economic and political
environments that influence individual and population health. The
inequities in the distribution of these conditions lead to
differences in health outcomes (health disparities).
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Health Equity Lens A health equity lens is a way of adjusting
how we look at and consider individual and population health. It
looks beyond a populations overall health status and compares how
different groups are doing and takes into consideration the unique
concerns of those in disadvantaged groups.
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Ways an equity lens can be applied to health improvement
Involve community members Understand the root causes and level of
health inequities Use health (equity) impact assessments Integrate
equity goals, approaches and indicators into policies, plans and
development agendas Target resources and efforts to reach
populations experiencing health disparities
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Economic Status
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Income by Race/Ethnicity
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K 12 Lunch Support by Race
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Education Attainment
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Trends: Education by Poverty Status
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Education by Race and Ethnicity
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High School Graduation Rates
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Health disparities in relation to obesity Obesity rates in
Minnesota: 11.1% of Minnesota children are obese 25.7% of Minnesota
adults are obese Illness and death due to chronic diseases are more
prevalent among racial and ethnic groups. Obesity is a major risk
factor for many chronic health conditions including diabetes, heart
disease, hypertension, and obesity- related cancer.
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Education Attainment and Obesity
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Adult Obesity: Education and Income
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Adolescent Overweight or Obese Percent who self report
overweight or obese
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Obesity in Minnesota WIC Children Obesity rates in American
Indian children ages two to five years continued to rise
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Health disparities in relation to tobacco Smoking occurs at
much higher rates among Native Americans and Alaska Natives and the
LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) population. Smoking
also occurs more frequently among persons of lower income and lower
education. Tobacco use rates in Minnesota: 21% use some form of
tobacco 16.1% are smokers
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Tobacco Use in Minnesota
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Adolescent Tobacco Use
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Things To Remember We need to consciously and consistently
address health disparities and inequities It takes time!
Partnerships with community members and organizations is a must
Community capacity building and community empowerment are key
strategies for reducing health disparities and achieving health
equity Populations experiencing health disparities are not
homogenous and data does not tell the whole picture
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For more information Please refer to the SHIP Guiding documents
and Health Equity Implementation Guide for more details and
resources If you have questions, please direct them to:
[email protected][email protected]
