A Health inequality is a measurable difference in health risk, health status or health outcome between two or more population groups. A health inequity is a difference in health risk, health status or health status that is unjust or avoidable and can be mitigated.
Some populations or groups of people have a greater risk of getting certain diseases (such as STIs or TB) or worse outcomes because of who they are (e.g..: gender, sexual orientation, race), their levels of education, where they live, availability of preventive measures or treatments, etc..
Health equity is a goal to ensure everyone enjoys the best health possible, regardless of social, economic, and environmental circumstances, including socially constructed factors such as race, gender, sexuality, religion and social status. Achieving health equity requires acknowledging that some people have unequal starting places, and different strategies and resources are needed to correct the imbalance and make health possible.
Health equity is achieved when disparities in health status between groups due to social and structural factors are reduced or eliminated. See also social determinants of health.