Bridging the Gap: Impact of Race, Gender, and Socioeconomic Factors on Health Equity

Abstract

Background: Bridging the Gap examines the interplay of race, gender, and socioeconomic factors influencing health equity. Chronic disparities persist due to systemic inequities affecting marginalized communities. Objective: To quantify the impact of race, gender, and socioeconomic status on health outcomes among 142 patients at tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh, thereby informing targeted interventions for improved equity globally. Methods: A retrospective, multi-center study was conducted from January 2014 to June 2015 at tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh. Data from 142 patients were analyzed using multivariate regression and structural equation modeling to assess associations between race, gender, and socioeconomic factors with health outcomes. Statistical significance was determined with p-values <0.05, and standard deviations measured variability across all study variables accurately. Results: Analysis revealed that 56% of patients exhibited adverse health outcomes, with racial disparities accounting for 22% of variance. Gender differences contributed 18% and socioeconomic factors 20% to overall disparities. Mean health outcome scores were 68.5 ± 12.3. Multivariate regression indicated a statistically significant association (p = 0.03) between socioeconomic status and health outcomes. Further calculations demonstrated that for every unit increase in socioeconomic index, health outcome scores improved by 0.45 units. The model explained 78% of the variance, confirming robust associations among the studied variables in this diverse patient sample from tertiary hospitals. Detailed analysis revealed consistent subgroup patterns, reinforcing the impact of social determinants on health disparities significantly. Conclusion: Bridging the Gap demonstrates that race, gender, and socioeconomic factors critically influence health equity. Targeted interventions are essential for mitigating disparities and promoting equitable health outcomes across diverse populations.