What are Health Disparities?

The National Institutes of Health define health disparities as “differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States .”

Health disparities are the outcome of racial and ethnic differences in rates of access, utilization, and prescription of health care services. Recent reports suggest that there are differences in the kinds and quality of health care received by racial and ethnic minorities as compared to non- minorities.