Health disparities—Understanding how social determinants fuel racial/ethnic health disparities

Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to provide readers with a definition of health disparities and to provide an overall understanding of the factors that lead to racial/ethnic differences in health. The focus of this chapter is to highlight social determinants of health, such as neighborhood factors, policies, and practices that have fueled racial/ethnic differences in health over time. Finally, this chapter will describe steps that need to be taken in order to reach health equity in the United States. Specific examples from local settings as well as leading organizations are highlighted.