Health Disparities and Health Equity

Reading Discussion Guide:

Braveman, Paula et al. (2011).  Health Disparities and Health Equity: the issue is justice.

1. Why do we need to have clear definitions for public health terms like “health disparities”? How does a clear definition help us as a field?

2. The authors argue that health disparities are fundamentally about social justice. How is that different from defining health disparities as just any difference in health?

3. What rationale do these authors give for saying that health disparities are fundamentally an issue of justice? Do you agree?  Are disparities in health an issue of justice?

4. What are the major components of the authors stated definition of health disparities ?