Building Bridges to Better Health: Why Health Equity Matters in Every Community

Understanding the Roots of Inequity and How We Can Move Forward Together

Imagine a community where everyone—regardless of race, income, neighborhood, or background—has the same chance to live a long, healthy life. Sounds fair, right? Yet, in many parts of the United States, that isn’t the reality. How healthy you are often depends not on your biology alone, but on where you live, how much money you make, the quality of your education, and even how connected you are to supportive networks. These are what experts call the social determinants of health (SDOH)—factors outside of healthcare that shape health outcomes every day (CDC, 2024).

Recent data show that adverse social determinants like loneliness, lack of emotional support, unstable housing, and food insecurity affect racial and ethnic minority populations far more than others in America. For example, non‑Hispanic Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and multiracial adults reported higher rates of these challenges compared with non‑Hispanic White adults.(CDC, 2024) These disparities don’t just influence habits or choices—they impact life expectancy, access to care, chronic disease risk, and overall quality of life.

One way to achieve this goal is understanding and addressing the root causes of health inequity, especially for women and minority communities that research shows often face the greatest barriers. This belief lies at the heart of our courses offered through the Public Health Impact Academy (PHIA):  Health Equity 101: Building Bridges to Better Outcomes—a course designed to open doors to deeper understanding and meaningful action.

What Contributes to Health Inequities?

Health inequities do not happen by accident. It is the result of historical and structural forces that shape the environment we live in. One powerful force is structural discrimination—where policies and systems in housing, employment, education, and justice create unequal opportunities for certain groups of people. These systemic barriers limit economic conditions for racial and ethnic minorities, putting them at higher risk for poor health outcomes and limiting their access to resources (PMC, 2023).

For example, lack of access to quality education and stable jobs makes it harder for families to secure good healthcare, healthy food, and safe housing—basic ingredients for good health. Many minority communities are more likely to live in neighborhoods with fewer grocery stores, more pollution, limited public transportation, and inadequate medical services. All of which can add up to significant health disadvantages.

Real‑World Examples and Evidence

Let’s bring the issue to life with concrete examples from research:

Social Determinants and Daily Life

A 2024 national report found that nearly one‑third of adults in the U.S. experience social isolation or loneliness, with disproportionately higher rates among racial and ethnic minorities compared to non‑Hispanic White adults (CDC, 2024). Why does this matter?

A real-world example of this can be seen in older adults, especially those who live alone and don't have strong support systems. A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that seniors who are socially isolated are more likely to be hospitalized and have a higher risk of death compared to those who stay socially connected (Pantell et al., 2013). For example, an older adult living in a rural area without reliable transportation might miss doctor’s appointments or may not be able to attend community activities.

Over time, this can lead to untreated health problems like heart disease, as well as increased feelings of depression and memory decline. These issues became even more noticeable during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many seniors—especially those in underserved communities—felt more alone and had trouble getting the care they needed.

Structural Barriers and Health Justice

Historical and ongoing structural discrimination in areas like employment continues to shape health disparities. For instance, racial discrimination in job opportunities contributes to economic instability, which in turn decreases access to healthcare and increases health risks in minority communities (PMC, 2023).

Hiring discrimination is an example that shines a light on the injustices faced by many underserved people. For example, job applicants with names that sound traditionally Black received fewer callbacks than equally qualified applicants with White-sounding names (Quillian et al., 2017). When people face barriers like this, they are less likely to get jobs that offer steady income and benefits like health insurance. Because of this, they may not have health insurance, delay going to the doctor, skip preventive care, or struggle to manage ongoing health conditions.

Over time, these challenges can lead to worse health outcomes. This example shows how discrimination in the job market doesn’t just affect income—it can also have a direct impact on a person’s health.

Call To Action: 

What Can Be Done?

The good news? There are actionable steps both individuals and professionals can take.

For Community Members :

• Know your rights and resources: Understand available health services in your community and how to access them. Share this information with your neighbors. 

• Build supportive networks: Social support can improve mental health, access to services, and resilience.

• Stay informed: Awareness of how SDOH affects your health helps you make better health and financial decisions for you and your family.

  
  

For Public Health Professionals

Professionals play a crucial role in dismantling barriers and creating systems that support equity:

• Use equity‑focused frameworks that guide implementation of programs with underserved populations. Using equity-centered theories and models can improve how interventions reach and benefit underserved groups (SpringerLink, 2023).

• Engage communities in the planning process: Authentic community involvement ensures programs address real needs and cultural contexts.

• Advocate for policies that support SDOH: Work across sectors—housing, education, transportation—to build environments that promote health for all. Policies that make health the easy choice will have the most positive impact. 

  
  

Health equity starts with understanding—but it doesn’t stop there.

• Reflect on your community: Ask reflective questions like; What barriers to health do you see around you?

• Talk about it: Engage your colleagues, family, friends, and neighbors in conversations about equity.

When we work together—across communities, sectors, and systems—we move closer to a world where health is not a privilege, but a right.

Let’s build bridges to better outcomes, together.

The Public Health Impact Academy (PHIA) provides dynamic evidenced-based training designed to equip public health professionals with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to drive meaningful change and improve health outcomes in all communities.https://www.beaconpublichealth.com/phia.

Check out our educational resources on our website at www.beaconpublichealth.com to help educate and inspire positive behavior change. Let’s continue the conversation on social media. 

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About the author: Ariana Midgette, a recent graduate from Morgan State University with a degree in Health Education with a concentration in Health Administration. She is passionate about enhancing healthcare access and utilizing effective leadership to improve service delivery for diverse communities. With a solid foundation in healthcare systems and management practices, Ariana is poised to make a meaningful impact in the field.

References: 

1. Gustafson, P., Aziz, Y. A., Lambert, M., Bartholomew, K., Rankin, N., Fusheini, A., Brown, R., Carswell, P., Ratima, M., Priest, P., & Crengle, S. (2023, October 16). A scoping review of equity-focused implementation theories, models and frameworks in healthcare and their application in addressing ethnicity-related health inequities - implementation science. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13012-023-01304-0  

2. Town, Machell, et al. “Racial and Ethnic Differences in Social Determinants of Health and Health-Related Social Needs among Adults - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2022.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7 Mar. 2024, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7309a3.htm  

3. Yearby, Ruqaiijah. “The Social Determinants of Health, Health Disparities, and Health Justice.” The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics : A Journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, winter 2022, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10009371/ 

4. Pantell, M., Rehkopf, D., Jutte, D., Syme, S. L., Balmes, J., & Adler, N. (2013). Social isolation: a predictor of mortality comparable to traditional clinical risk factors. American journal of public health, 103(11), 2056–2062. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301261

5. Quillian, L., Pager, D., Hexel, O., & Midtbøen, A. H. (2017). Meta-analysis of field experiments shows no change in racial discrimination in hiring over time. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(41), 10870–10875. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1706255114