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Summary Overview
Health equity is achieved when every person has the opportunity to “attain his or her full health potential” and no one is “disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances.” Health inequities are reflected in differences in length of life; quality of life; rates of disease, disability, and death; severity of disease; and access to treatment.
Basics
The places where people live, work, learn, and play will protect and promote their health and safety, especially those people at greater risk of health disparities.
Social determinants of health are factors in the social environment that contribute to or weaken the health of individuals and communities. These factors include, but are not limited to the following:
- Socioeconomic status
- Transportation
- Housing
- Access to services
- Discrimination by social grouping (e.g., race, gender, or class)
- Social or environmental stressors
Social determinants of health have repeatedly been found to be associated with heart disease and stroke.
Spokane or Washington Specific Data
Recommendations
To achieve health equity, we must eliminate avoidable health inequities and health disparities requiring short-and long-term actions.
Related Facts
The lower an individual’s socio-economic position, the higher their risk of poor health. (WHO)
Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
WIC has an extraordinary record of preventing children’s health problems and improving growth and development. Locally, the health district supports this vision by offering WIC services in several convenient locations.
A Report on Quality of Life in Spokane
Survey data provide a holistic look at the health and well-being of local individuals and indicates disparities between different groups.