What are Health Disparities?

Imagine a river. Picture yourself observing its flow from two distinct points: upstream and downstream. Upstream represents the starting point, where various factors come into play. Downstream, on the other hand, symbolizes the end point, where the consequences of those behaviors become evident.

The Upstream and Downstream of Health

In public health, we use a similar conceptual framework. Upstream refers to the root causes of health inequities. These are factors that shape our health from the beginning. They include elements such as socioeconomic status, demographic group, access to health care, and other conditions in the places where people live, learn, work and play often referred to as Social Determinants of Health — which can create an uneven playing field, where certain communities and individuals face greater challenges in achieving optimal health. 

Downstream, we observe the outcomes of these upstream factors. Health disparities emerge as differences in health outcomes in different populations. Some groups may experience higher rates of diseases, shorter life expectancies, or limited access to quality health care due to these disparities. 

The Importance of Recognizing Disparities

Understanding the link between upstream inequities and downstream disparities is crucial. It allows us to address the root causes of health inequalities and work toward creating a fairer and healthier society for everyone.

Join Us on Our Path

Together, we can create initiatives and services that promote health equity, support underserved communities, and ensure access to high quality health care for everyone. Explore our resources to learn more about the efforts our agency is taking to Eliminate Health Disparities and how you can contribute to creating positive change. Together, we can build a future where everyone can live a healthy life.