Defining equity, its determinants, and the foundations of equity science

Katrina M. Plamondon and Sana Z. Shahram

Social Science & Medicine, 2024, vol. 351, issue C

Abstract: Advancing equity as a priority is increasingly declared in response to decades of evidence showing the association between poorer health outcomes and the unfair distribution of resources, power, and wealth across all levels of society. Quandries present, however, through incongruence, vagueness and disparate interpretations of the meaning of equity dilute and fragment efforts across research, policy and practice. Progress on reducing health inequities is, in this context, unsurprisingly irresolute. In this article, we make a case for equity science that reimagines the ways in which we (as researchers, as systems leaders, as teachers and mentors, and as citizens in society) engage in this work. We offer a definition of equity, its determinants, and the paradigmatic foundations of equity science, including the assumptions, values, and processes., and methods of this science. We argue for an equity science that can more meaningfully promote coherent alignment between intention, knowledge and action within and beyond the health sciences to spark a more equitable future.

Keywords: Health equity; Inequity; Power; Justice; Philosophy of science; Knowledge-to-action; methodology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116940

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