As providers continue to raise awareness about the importance of cultural competence in healthcare and public health experts push for equitable access to healthcare, it’s become clear that health equity is a top priority in today’s society. Those interested in pursuing a career in health literacy and education should be aware of the disparities in healthcare access, as this will allow them to develop health promotion strategies that improve health equity overall and ensure that everyone has the access they need to personalized, high-quality healthcare.
Understanding Health Equity
Most healthcare providers would say that achieving health equity is one of their goals, but the fact of the matter is that the road to health equity is a winding path filled with many challenges. Understanding what health equity is and what steps need to be taken to achieve health equity for all people is essential for anyone who wants to advance their career in public health education and promotion.
What Is Health Equity?
Health equity is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a state in which everyone in a community has fair and equal access to high-quality healthcare services and also can live the healthiest possible life. At this time, disparities in healthcare access as well as the existing social determinants of health, are preventing communities around the country from achieving health equity.
The Impact of Health Inequities
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the health inequities that exist in today’s society. According to the CDC, the factors that influence health equity in a community include:
- Social determinants of health, which are defined as the conditions in which people are born and in which they work and live.
- Social and community context, which includes any resources or programming available in a given community.
- Healthcare access, which can be limited in certain communities based on their location or their socioeconomic status.
- Neighborhood and physical environment, which can have an impact on a person’s ability to live a healthy life. Factors such as public transportation, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, parks and more can impact the quality of health of a community.
- Workplace conditions, which can impact the physical and mental health of community members.
- Educational access, which can vary significantly based on the location of the community or its socioeconomic status.
The Role of Public Health Education in Promoting Equity
Public health education can play a pivotal role in promoting health equity. Public health experts can raise awareness about the importance of advancing health equity and improving healthcare access by increasing the number of public health educational programs and resources in a community.
Through health literacy and education efforts, public health experts can begin:
Raising Awareness Through Education
One of the primary purposes of any health promotion strategy is to raise awareness within a community. Public health education programs can help communities understand the social factors that affect health. They also provide information about available resources and programs to address barriers to healthcare.
Empowering Communities With Knowledge
These educational efforts can also help empower community members by giving them the factual and understandable information they need to make the best decisions for their own lives. For example, public health experts have found that the impact of nutrition education is significant, as these programs give members of a community the information and insight they need to make healthy decisions for themselves and their family members.
Training Public Health Professionals
While many of the public health education and promotion programs are aimed directly at community members, some programs are designed to train other public health professionals. These programs focus on skill development, allowing public health professionals to develop an advanced understanding of the most effective health promotion strategies.
Advocacy for Equitable Access to Healthcare
In an effort to advance health equity in communities around the country and across the world, public health educators are actively working to advocate for cultural competence in healthcare and improved access to healthcare overall.
Public health educators can do this by:
Addressing Social Determinants of Health
One of the most common misconceptions about achieving positive health outcomes is that genetics is the most significant factor in determining someone’s ability to live a healthy and productive life. Social determinants of health play a more significant role in a person’s health than any other factor. By recognizing the social determinants of health impact, public health educators can design programming that raises awareness and works to improve conditions for people in a particular community.
Bridging Gaps in Healthcare Access
Public health education and promotion experts also need to develop programming designed to remove the barriers to healthcare access. Public health professionals can bridge the gaps in healthcare access by:
- Promoting the importance of preventative healthcare.
- Working to improve the number of people who have health insurance coverage.
- Increasing access to evidence-based healthcare in a given community.
Policy and Advocacy Work
Public health educators can serve as liaisons between healthcare providers and legislators. They are often called to advocate for improved healthcare policies, particularly those that will improve access within a community or improve the social determinants of health within a particular area.
Promoting Equity Through Public Health Programs
Public health programs can raise awareness not only about the importance of health equity, but also about the barriers that exist that can prevent individuals in the community from being able to live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives.
Health educators can promote equity through the following types of public health programs:
Community-Based Health Initiatives
Community-based health initiatives are collaborative programs designed by public health educators in partnership with other community organizations. These innovative programs are designed to improve access to resources and to create a culture of well-being within a community. For instance, public health educators can work with healthcare providers, nurses and midwives to create a support group for postpartum mothers in the community who may be feeling isolated or overwhelmed.
Prevention-Focused Health Promotion
Instead of designing programming specifically aimed at individuals suffering from chronic diseases or serious illnesses, public health educators can work on prevention-focused health initiatives emphasizing the importance of making healthy, positive choices. For example, nutrition-based programming can empower people in the community to enjoy a well-balanced diet each day.
Collaborative Efforts With Stakeholders
The most effective public health programs are collaborative efforts that involve key stakeholders in the community. Many public health educators work with healthcare providers, educators, government leaders and non-profit organizations to identify the needs of the community and understand the perspective of community members.
Challenges in Advancing Health Equity
While the benefits of advancing health equity are obvious, many public health professionals find that they encounter some challenges when working to develop impactful and effective programming.
Some of the most pressing challenges in advancing health equity include:
Systemic Barriers to Change
Systemic barriers exist within society that can make it difficult to reduce the health equity gap that exists today. Research published in the Therapeutic Advances of Infectious Disease academic journal details some of the most challenging barriers to overcome:
- Socioeconomic conditions, which can be difficult to overcome for those with limited access to education or resources.
- Geographic location, particularly for those who live in rural, urban or underrepresented communities.
- Racial inequality, which continues to exist at all levels of society and prevents some people from accessing the care they need.
Resource Limitations
Unfortunately, there is often limited funding for public health initiatives, which can make it difficult for public health educators to promote the programs and resources that can truly have an impact on advancing health equity.
The Future of Health Equity Advocacy
Fortunately, more people are beginning to recognize the importance of improving access to healthcare and addressing health disparities that exist. The future of health equity advocacy looks bright, and there is a heightened need for public health education and promotion professionals.
Innovations in Public Health Education
Public health educators will likely continue to leverage the latest technology to promote social justice in healthcare and improve access to healthcare overall.
Building a Diverse Public Health Workforce
Many public health organizations are looking to build a more diverse public health workforce to improve representation and increase trust in public health programming. By investing in a more diverse workforce, public health organizations will be able to understand new perspectives and ideas that can help them develop more effective programming.
Global Efforts in Health Equity
Achieving health equity requires people worldwide to recognize that structural disparities exist that prevent people from accessing the information and resources they need to live their healthiest lives. It’s expected that global efforts to address health equity will continue to ramp up in the coming years, ensuring that changes can be made worldwide.
Discover the Importance of Social Justice in Healthcare at Marymount University
Advancing health equity and addressing health disparities will take time, but with dedication and perseverance, public health professionals can make an impact. At Marymount University, we offer a Master of Science in Public Health Education and Promotion degree that focuses on the behaviors, systems, environments and policies that affect health, allowing students to develop an advanced understanding of the current health landscape and to learn how to create effective health promotion strategies.
Learn more about our available majors and programs, and apply to Marymount University today.
Sources
https://marymount.edu/academics/health-sciences/ms-in-public-health-education-and-promotion/
https://www.cdc.gov/health-equity/what-is/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/health-equity-chronic-disease/index.html
https://odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/health-equity-healthy-people-2030
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10684034/
https://www.cdc.gov/about/priorities/why-is-addressing-sdoh-important.html
https://carle.org/services/institutes/community-health-initiatives-overview
