What do healthcare disparities refer to?

Healthcare disparities specifically refer to differences in access to or quality of healthcare experienced by different populations. This concept is fundamental to understanding the inequities present in health systems, which can arise from various factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic location, race, ethnicity, and other social determinants of health. When some groups experience barriers that prevent them from obtaining necessary healthcare services or receiving lower-quality care compared to others, these disparities become evident.

The focus on differences highlights how not all individuals or groups benefit equally from healthcare systems, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to address and reduce these disparities. Understanding these differences is crucial in public health and policy discussions aiming to promote health equity and improve outcomes for underserved or marginalized populations.