Health Equity
Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health regardless of:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Age
- Sex
- Income
- Where they live
Health disparities are preventable differences in health among population groups. Health disparities may result from limited access to resources and opportunities. According to the Urban Institute,
- Texans have a lower life expectancy and live in poorer health than most other states.
- Black and Hispanic adults in Texas have higher rates of obesity and diabetes than white Texans.
- Black infants in Texas have a higher mortality – twice that of other races.
- Black women in Texas have a four times higher rate of pregnancy-related mortality than Hispanic women, and two times higher than white women.
- White adults have higher rates of cancer and depression in the state.
- In 2018, Texas had the highest cost burden attributable to health disparities in the nation – $40.6 billion for racial and ethnic health disparities and $70 billion for education-related health disparities.
These fact sheets and interactive maps help us understand and compare disparities across Bexar County:
- The Institute for Public Health produces Community Health Fact Sheets
- The City of San Antonio maintains an Equity Atlas.
- CI: Now maintains the Bexar Data Dive.
Taking Action for Health Equity
Health disparities aren’t easy to solve. University Health is taking steps to understand where disparities exist and connect people to resources to improve health for everyone.
In March 2025, University Health adopted a Health Equity through Action and Leadership (HEAL) Strategic Plan with priorities for 2025 organized by the following domains:
- Advance Health Equity as a Strategic Priority
- Enhance Internal Processes and Programs to Support Health Equity
- Identify Health Disparities
- Implement Evidence-Informed Interventions to Reduce Health Disparities
- Partner with the Community to Advance Health Equity
This plan serves as a roadmap, guiding our efforts to identify and address health disparities, eliminate barriers and promote health equity.
Learn more about University Health’s work to advance health equity in 2024.
