—
"Equity in health is
not about eliminating all health differences so that everyone has the same
level of health, but rather to reduce or eliminate those which result from
factors which are considered to be both avoidable and unfair. Equity is
therefore concerned with creating equal opportunities for health and with
bringing health differentials down to the lowest levels possible."
—
Source: NSW Health, Four steps towards equity,
2003.
I
think it is unrealistic to think that in the future we will be able to “elimin(ate)
all health differences so that everyone has the same level of health” since
there will always be discrepancies between us all due to the way we were
brought up and our differing lifestyles. We are bound to inherit or develop illness
due to the way we live our lives. Therefore I agree with this statement that
equity is not about making our health status’ equal, rather reducing the
factors that cause the divide between the sick and the healthy. Equity is not
about equal health but equal opportunity for good health. This includes access
to healthy foods, fresh water, shelter, education and healthcare.
The
social, economic, geographic, political and physical determinants of health can
influence ones equity. The social determinants are defined by the World Health
Organisation (WHO) as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work
and age. These are major determinants which can be a precursor to a good or poor
health in the future. Economic determinants refer to the state of the economy
you’re living in. For example, a country in recession will consequently affect
the health of its residents. A geographic determinant that could hinder your
ability to access fresh food or health care facilities is if you live in rural
areas.
Unhealthy politics can lead to inequities in health such as the civil
war in Palastine where pregnant women were refused entry into the hospitals and
were forced to give birth at checkpoints. Physical determinants can relate to
having transport nearby in order to access food or having a well-lit,
aesthetically pleasing park for kids to play in.
All of these determinants play a major role in creating equity within the health of our society. It is important to address all of them since so many of them are linked and if one is lacking, it has a domino-effect on the rest.
