Eye on Equity – Life Expectancy
Health equity means that everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Spokane Regional Health District is committed to advancing health equity by applying an equity lens in all of our work. A core function of public health is to provide data that helps communities and stakeholders identify, understand, and address health inequities.
This Eye on Equity page is our commitment to keeping health equity in focus for the Spokane community.
Here, you’ll find information that highlights disparities in life expectancy among different groups in our area. These differences can stem from unequal social and economic conditions that are systemic, avoidable—and therefore unjust.
By working together to close these gaps, we can move closer to achieving health equity.
Definitions:
Equality: All are equal.
Equity: People are offered what they need.
Health Inequity: Differences in population health that can be traced to unequal economic and social conditions and are systemic and avoidable – and thus inherently unjust and unfair.
Health Disparity: Differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups.
Social Determinants of Health: Factors (i.e., determinants) in our social and economic environment that research has found to negatively (or positively) affect health.