Health Equity in Nursing: A Concept Analysis

Rationale of the Study: The concept of primary health care has ignited efforts of health leaders to improve the health status of people worldwide. This impelled attempts to reduce inequities through policy changes and interagency collaborative participations. With nurses at the center of the healthcare delivery, they could contribute much to potentiate attainment of equity in health. However, little is known regarding the realization of the concept of health equity from the leaders in healthcare down to the healthcare workers. Research objectives/Problem statement: This concept analysis provides a thorough review of the concept of health equity in nursing and relatedness to healthcare and health practices. Methods: A concept analysis method described by Walker and Avant1 was used to clarify the meaning of health equity in Nursing. The concept’s attributes were determined through extensive literature search. Model, borderline, and contrary cases were constructed. Analysis was further done by identifying the antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents of health equity. Results and Conclusions: Health Equity is attributed to adequate and appropriate distribution of health services which is closely linked to an opportunity to gain access to health services that is not affected by socioeconomic status or other factors. Establishment of relevant policies and effective promoting actions of health and non-health agencies are indispensable to realize health equity. Generally, it is believed that if there is health equity, there will be improvement of the heath status of people. It will yield greatest contributions to maintaining and preserving the rights of people in terms of their health and their right to be not deprived of services from vast network of health systems. Presence of which prevents disadvantaged groups to have greater disadvantage. The concept continues to be a major concern particularly in developing countries where socially disadvantaged population groups are at its highest. Implementation of universal healthcare may continue to be a challenge among health and non-health related organizations. Clearly, more intensive efforts are needed at various levels of policy development and implementation.