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Health Disparities
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Population Groups

Health Disparities

Health disparities refer to the differences in health outcomes, disease prevalence, and access to care among various population groups.

Overview

Health disparities are health differences between different groups of people. These health differences may include:

  • How many people get certain diseases
  • How severe the diseases are
  • How many people have complications because of the diseases
  • How many people die from a disease
  • Whether people can get health care
  • How many people get screened for a disease

Groups Affected

These groups of people may be based on:

  • Race
  • Ethnicity
  • Immigrant status
  • Disability
  • Sex or gender
  • Sexual orientation
  • Geography
  • Income
  • Level of education

Frequently Asked Questions

Patients might notice differences in the quality of care, access to specialists, or treatment options compared to others, or find their concerns are dismissed. It's important to advocate for yourself and seek second opinions if you feel your care is unequal.
Providers can implement cultural competency training, use language services, screen for social determinants of health, offer flexible appointment scheduling, and connect patients with community resources to overcome barriers to care.
Yes, many federal and local programs, such as those from the Office of Minority Health, HRSA, and community health centers, focus on improving access to care, health education, and preventative services for vulnerable populations.
Geographic location can affect access to healthy food, safe environments, transportation to appointments, availability of specialists, and the presence of environmental hazards, all of which contribute to health disparities.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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