Which term describes the gaps in healthcare access and outcomes among various demographics?

The term that best describes the gaps in healthcare access and outcomes among various demographics is health disparities. Health disparities refer to the differences in health outcomes and healthcare access that exist between different population groups, often influenced by social, economic, and environmental factors. This concept encompasses the inequalities that affect underserved populations, including differences related to race, ethnicity, geographic location, income level, and education. These disparities can manifest in various ways, including varying rates of disease prevalence, different levels of access to care, and unequal health outcomes.

On the other hand, healthcare equity describes the principle of fairness, emphasizing the need for everyone to have access to the same quality of care regardless of their background or circumstances. Social determinants refer to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that influence health outcomes. Population health is a broader term that encompasses the health outcomes of a group of individuals but does not specifically pinpoint the existence of gaps in healthcare access and outcomes among different demographics. Thus, health disparities accurately captures the essence of the question regarding inequities in healthcare access and outcomes.