Socieoeconomic Inequality
In addition to making it more difficult to obtain insurance or cover high medical costs, low income can also limit people’s access to transportation, housing, literacy, and other health-impacting resources — even in areas where these resources are available.
Tools: Strategies
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Tools » Strategies
Recommendations to help providers and health professionals mitigate socioeconomic disparities
Systemic change is needed to adequately address the barriers low-income groups face. But there are a variety of ways providers, researchers, and other care workers can support people with low socioeconomic status, as well as advocate for broader changes.
In your practice:
- Become aware of the issues - Educate yourself to be culturally competent in caring for people who are disadvantaged. Understand how social determinants of health shape access to care, especially the challenges and barriers within the community you serve.
- Screen for barriers - Include this as part of your regular examination processes so you can tailor individualized care.
- Be mindful of internalized bias - Learn about potential biases you may not be aware of, and implement strategies to overcome these in your day-to-day practice.
In your center:
- Build partnerships with other organizations - Strengthen relationships with groups that share your mission or address other interconnected areas of community health.
- Accept and give referrals - Take referrals from organizations that serve low-income groups, and refer your patients to other supportive services.
- Support education - Advocate for education about barriers to health for both patients and your colleagues.
In your community:
- Advocate publicly - Providers are in a unique and trusted position to advocate systemic and policy change within their communities. Be vocal about the challenges you experience in your clinic, as well as the evidence-based approaches to addressing them.
- Know the available resources - Understand and be ready to share about options in your area. In additionl to nonprofit organizations, resources like social workers and support groups can play a valuable role in helping patients navigate socioeconomic challenges.
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Learn more » About Socioeconomic Disparities
Selected research outlining the barriers created by economic inequality
- Housing accessibility problems for people with Parkinson's disease**
- Mapping the selection, availability, price and affordability of essential medicines for mental health conditions at a global level
- Sociodemographic and Geographic Disparities in End-of-Life Health Care Intensity Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Parkinson Disease**
* Article is free for MDS Members (No-fee membership available for residents of low-income countries and trainees) / ** Article access managed by an external organization
Learn more » MDS Initiatives
The MDS Equality of Access to Care Committee is working broadly to make care more accessible globally
Related Topics
In many areas, systemic oppression disproportionately economically disadvantages people in minority Race / Ethnicity groups.
Low socioeconomic status can also create a variety of barriers to education and information, which can leave disadvantaged communities with Low Health and Technology Literacy, which creates further obstacles to care.
More Resources for Underserved Categories
Areas
- Lack of Resources
- Provider Shortages
- Environmental Exposure
- Geographic Barriers
- Dense Areas: Infection Spread
Populations
- Socioeconomic Status
- Gender / Sex / Orientation
- Race / Ethnicity
- Stigma
- Low Literacy
- Genetic Disparities
- Beliefs
- Rare and Understudied Diseases
Suggest a resource
Suggest additional resources for professionals working with underserved areas or populations.