Why Is Health Equity Important: Impacts on Communities of Color

There are few people as seemingly healthy as Olympic gold medalists. But when sprinter Tori Bowie died in her home due to complications from childbirth at the age of 32, her loss – possibly connected to respiratory distress and eclampsia – felt too familiar to Black mothers in the U.S., who have a maternal mortality rate over two-and-a-half times higher than the rate for White mothers. Revelations that Bowie had bipolar disorder and weighed less than 100 lbs. despite her pregnancy led some to question whether problems with her overall health weren’t taken seriously enough by her doctors. ‍

Many factors lead to disparities in maternal mortality, including implicit bias and testimonial injustice that can impact how well patient concerns are heard, systemic discrimination, unequal access to quality healthcare, and poor patient-provider trust. These same factors are considered relevant to infant mortality disparities, with Black newborns having the highest mortality rates and 2.4x more likely to die than their White counterparts. When hospitals and other facilities ask the question “why is health equity important?” these tragedies and the circumstances surrounding them are just one alarming answer.

Why is health equity important? And why is it even highly relevant to people not affected by concerns specific to communities of color? It can lead to better health outcomes by reducing disparities, improving chronic disease management, and giving more communities better life expectancy. It can lower costs, owing to increases in preventive care and a focus on efficient allocation of resources, and support economic growth, as healthier populations are more likely to be productive and contribute to the economy. 

Exploring barriers to health equity and the disparities they foster 

Contextualizing this question, however, is only the first step to closing gaps in the healthcare system. Providers can only achieve true health equity when they understand what it means in relation to other terms commonly used in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) discussions and engage the communities they serve to better understand social determinants of health (SDOH) and how they contribute to health disparities. Researchers must also have a firm grasp on the current challenges in clinical trial patient recruitment and enrollment, to improve diversity and representation and ensure the efficacy and safety of medical devices and pharmaceutical products across all populations. Leaders can then use this information to help inform change that makes a real, lasting impact. 

What is health equity and why does it matter?

To fully comprehend “why is health equity important,” you first need a clear definition. Health equity is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.” It’s related to health equality – ensuring equal healthcare treatment for all – but doesn't mean individuals get the same care or the same amount of time with a provider. Rather, they receive the care they need. Attaining health equity is important for delivering fair, quality care and conducting clinical trials representative of all populations' needs.

The ramifications of not receiving necessary healthcare are dire – but not just because the situation could be fatal. As they meet barriers to health equity, people face a lesser quality of life. Illness may prevent them from working, which contributes to financial instability and can limit access to healthcare, safe housing, nutritious food, and education – creating a vicious cycle that can perpetuate poor health. Communities of color are particularly susceptible to experiencing these hardships. The conditions of the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age – including social determinants of health (SDOH) – can affect a wide range of health and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. And some feel this impact is difficult to confront, limiting the potential for a healthy, thriving life and personal growth. 

The role of SDOH in shaping individuals’ lives in communities of color

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services separates SDOH into five categories: economic stability, education access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context. It’s incumbent upon doctors to screen for these factors at the point of care and understand health disparities they’re tied to. Examples of these disparities and how they impact communities of color include: 

• Economic uncertainty and educational inequity: According to the U.S. Treasury Department, a large wealth gap is present between White households and Hispanic and Black households – driven by differences in income, assets, and home equity – that not only places the latter groups at an economic disadvantage, but limits individuals’ and families’ pursuit of higher education, buying a home, and/or moving to a better neighborhood. This divide leaves people in Hispanic and Black communities more at risk for chronic diseases and poorer overall health, particularly when experiencing poverty.
• Insufficient healthcare: One in five people without access to personal or public transportation – predominantly low-income individuals and families, disabled individuals, and Black adults – forgo necessary medical care, according to data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute.
• Higher rates of chronic disease and care complexity: Individuals in communities of color are more likely to be diagnosed with several types of chronic diseases than White Americans, ranging from diabetes to asthma to kidney disease, and Black Americans are more likely than White Americans to die from heart disease and several forms of cancer. Pollutants and other environmental hazards, limited healthcare access, and other SDOH exacerbate these numbers, while lived experience with structural racism and discrimination makes hospitalizations and provider-patient communications additional challenges.