Social and Health Equity and Equality – The Need for a Scientific Framework

Authors

  • Adriana María Correa Botero Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe P
  • María Mercedes Arias Valencia. Grupo Políticas y Servicios de Salud,
  • Jaime Carmona-Fonseca Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe Piedrahita,

Abstract

Problem: Studies on health/disease often use concepts such as equity/inequity, equality/inequality, and social justice. These terms are not always clearly and precisely defined, nor are they used with the same meaning by different authors. Objective: 1) To present and analyze the concepts used in the literature on living conditions, social justice, social and health equity and inequality, and 2) to offer a conceptual framework that allows these concepts to be used in a scientific manner. Methodology: Literature review and comparison of terms used in both general and specialist dictionaries, articles, and books. Results: Broad basic definitions of terms are presented. The approach used by Latin American Collective Health and Critical Epidemiology is based on understanding the social origins of equity/inequity and their visible manifestation in the determination of equality/inequality. Conclusion: There is little agreement on the conceptualization of these terms. The critical realism developed by Latin American Collective Health and Critical Epidemiology examines equity/inequity as a social process that generates equality/inequality and enables a scientific approach to the study of both concepts.

Author Biographies

Adriana María Correa Botero, Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe P

MA Physical Anthropology MA Social Medicine PhD Sociocultural Anthropology Full time professor. Research area: Health and society, Graduate Program in Physical Anthropology, National School of Anthropology and History. Member of the Promoting Group of ALAMES in Mexico.

María Mercedes Arias Valencia., Grupo Políticas y Servicios de Salud,

Universidad de Antioquia,

Jaime Carmona-Fonseca, Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe Piedrahita,

MSc, Grupo Salud y Comunidad-César Uribe Piedrahita, Universidad de Antioquia, E-mail:jaimecarmonaf@hotmail.com

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