Health Equity

Social and economic factors like income, level of education, cultural background, race and gender can affect health.  These social determinants of health are often influenced by circumstances outside of our control and affect our experience within communities, organizations, and institutions. 

Health equity and health equality are not the same thing. Health equity is about removing barriers and/or providing supports based on individual needs, so that everyone has an equal chance to be healthy.  This means that some people may need more resources and support than others to be healthy, and these resources and support are available and accessible when they need them. Health equality means that everyone is treated the same and provided with the same opportunity to be healthy.