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.
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.
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 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:
Disparities don’t stop with healthcare access and delivery. According to the “Global Trends in R&D 2023” report from IQVIA, U.S. clinical trial diversity recently dropped to its lowest level in the past decade, with inclusion of Black participants falling 46% between 2018 and 2022. Participation from Hispanic individuals has varied less significantly but has never been representative of U.S. Census demographics.
Many obstacles can prevent individuals in communities of color from joining clinical trials, ranging from mistrust to lack of awareness and access, cultural and language barriers, and investigator and provider bias. But increasing inclusivity is one of the most important current challenges in clinical trial patient recruitment and enrollment. This problem must be solved to ensure health equity in the use of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, due to factors like:
While many facilities might wish to be shining examples of health equity, making progress in addressing all the above disparities requires commitment and collaboration across various sectors and with communities of color.
Leaders must also work across sectors to inspire and execute improvements. In Louisiana, the state’s largest healthcare system recently partnered with one of the top Black universities in the U.S. to establish a joint College of Medicine that will, in part, act as a pipeline, developing physicians who reflect the community they’ll serve. Elsewhere, groups like the Cross-Sector Innovation Initiative are combining the expertise of leaders in areas like healthcare, public health, and social services to push for better population health and equity.
By engaging with communities of color through a community platform like NOWINCLUDED, healthcare organizations can get insights from real people on health topics they care about, wish to know more about, or hope to impact. This organic connection is invaluable to building trust, understanding the most crucial needs of key populations, and reducing stigmas, biases, and discriminatory practices.
Establish stellar examples of health equity across your organization today. Acclinate provides:
To learn more about how we can support your health equity efforts, schedule a 1:1 meeting with one of our experts.