Reducing and Eliminating Health Disparities with Information (REHDI) Initiative

REHDI logo

For more information, phone (619) 542-4092.

Our goal is to help reduce and eliminate health disparities by providing information about health conditions, including infectious and chronic diseases, which affect various populations differently.  Key influencing factors (i.e., social determinants of health) include, for example, age, geography, gender, race/ethnicity and socio-economic status. Our REHDI resource page includes key definitions, links to health equity reports and other resource links.

Our Health Equity Vision: Health equity for all San Diego County residents.

Our Health Equity Mission: Public Health Services (PHS) is committed to increasing health equity in San Diego County through continual development of policies and procedures, community capacity, awareness, and operational responsiveness and support to staff.

Health Equity Word Graphic

Health Equity-Related Definitions

Health refers to a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Public Health refers to what we as a society do collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy.

Public Health 3.0 refers to a major upgrade in public health practice emphasizes cross-sector work to affect the social determinants of health and advance health equity. Public Health 3.0 challenges us to incorporate health into all areas of governance. It is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). It calls for us to boldly expand public health to address all aspects of life that promote health and well-being, including:

  • Economic development
  • Education
  • Transportation
  • Food
  • Environment
  • Housing
  • Safe neighborhoods

Population Health refers to the health of a population as measured by health status indicators and as influenced by social, economic and physical environments, personal health practices, individual capacity and coping skills, human biology, early childhood development, and health services.

Social Determinants of Health refer to conditions in places where people are born, grow, live, play, work, and age that could affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. These conditions are referred to as social determinants of health (SDOH). Examples include:

  • Education
  • Income
  • Genetics
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Social status
  • Social support network
  • Physical environment
  • Gender
Determinations of Population Health

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/socialdeterminants/faq.html

 

Health Disparities refer to differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups e.g., within the United States.

Health Equity refers to all groups in a population having equal, fair, and just opportunities to attain their full health and well-being potential and quality of life.

Local Resources

State Resources

National Resources

  • American Medical Association
    The AMA is committed to addressing racial and ethnic health care disparities, through the Minority Affairs Section, the Health Care Disparities Program, and other initiatives.
  • CDC – Social Determinants of Health
    The CDC recognizes the impact of social determinants of health throughout its programs and provides data and resources to identify and address health inequities caused by unhealthy social environments.

Global Resources

  • Millennium Development Goals
    The eight Millennium Development Goals form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions e.g., halting the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Last updated September 11, 2019.