The presence of health disparities is well documented in the United States. From the beginning of life, racial and ethnic minorities and underserved communities experience health disparities in health status and outcomes. In the United States, the infant mortality rate for African Americans and American Indians is more than twice that of the national average. The situation doesn't improve as children grow up. U.S. men and women of color die on average five years earlier than their White counterparts and disparities among Hispanic Americans are rising.1
There are many factors that contribute to disparities, including socioeconomic status, access to quality health care, racial biases, health literacy, environment, and lifestyle. Health disparities decrease quality of life, contribute to poverty, and impact the overall health and well-being of the nation. Many health disparities can be prevented by reducing risk factors for death and disability, increasing health literacy, and ensuring that all people have the ability and opportunity to choose a life of wellness.
Click on the publications below to learn more about health disparities and strategies to reduce their impact on individuals and communities.
Health Disparities Publications
The 2006 National Healthcare Disparities Report
Since 2003, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has tracked national trends in a broad array of measures of health care quality and access, documenting disparities in factors that affect Americans' access to health care and the quality of the health care they receive. As with health literacy, these disparities can prevent individuals from receiving the health care they need or prevent them from providing health care for their loved ones. Ultimately, the result is higher health disparities, disability, and death from preventable diseases. Understanding the nature and root causes of these disparities is crucial if all Americans are to experience the benefits of improvements in health care, including access to preventive measures and information as well as appropriate disease treatments.
Each National Health Disparities Report (NHDR) has highlighted health care disparities linked to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status that impact every aspect of health care quality and access. The 2006 NHDR highlights four themes for policymakers, researchers, clinicians, administrators, and community leaders concerned with health care access and quality: 1) Disparities remain prevalent; 2) Some disparities are diminishing while others are increasing; 3) Opportunities for reducing disparities remain; and 4) information about disparities is improving, but gaps still persist.
National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2006 (AHRQ Publication No. 07-0012). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. View publication
1 National Healthcare Disparities Report, 2006 (AHRQ Publication No. 07-0012). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Available at http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr06/nhdr06.htm
