In the United States, health disparities are influenced by which factors?

• A. Racism, sexism, ageism, and heterosexism.
• B. Only geographic location.
• C. Purely genetics.
• D. There are no disparities.

Answer: (A)

Health disparities in the United States are shaped by social determinants and systemic inequities that affect who gets access to care, the quality of care people receive, and overall health opportunities. Racism, sexism, ageism, and heterosexism create barriers that operate through policies, institutions, and everyday interactions, leading to unequal prevention, treatment, and outcomes for different groups. These forms of discrimination influence factors like income, housing, education, and neighborhood safety, which in turn affect health.

Geographic location matters, but it isn’t the sole influence, and genetics don’t account for the broad pattern of unequal health outcomes across groups. There are clear disparities, driven largely by social bias and structural barriers rather than biology alone. Because the listed forms of discrimination collectively explain why some groups experience worse health and access than others, this set of factors best accounts for health disparities in the United States.