Health Equity Research

Searching for health equity related concepts can be challenging.

You could search for a concept, a specific aspect of social determinants of health, or both. Use subject headings (like MeSH or Emtree) and keywords and combine terms with Boolean operators. 

Below are just a few examples to illustrate.

Broad concepts

• MeSH
  • Social Determinants of Health (2014), Health Status Disparities (2008), Healthcare Disparities (2008), Minority Health (2008)
• Keywords 
  • differences, factors, inequity, inequality, disparities, deprivation, disadvantage

Specific aspects

• MeSH
  • Race Factors (2019), Vulnerable Populations (2003), Sex Factors (1968), Geriatrics, Homosexuality, Disabled Persons (1998/1963), Educational Status (1968), Socioeconomic Factors (1968)
• Keywords
  • gender, poverty, woman, older adult, resource poor, developing country

Use the populations tips to add relevant populations.
Remember to consider intersectionality. How do all of these affect each other?

MEDLINE®/PubMed® Search and Health Disparities & Minority Health Information Resources

• Government resources
• NIH resources
• US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) resources
• Associations, foundations, research centers

Health disparities filter in PubMed

• healthdisparities [sb]
• Search Details

• MEDLINE (PubMed or Ovid)
• APA PsycINFO
• the Cochrane Library
• CINAHL
• Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
• Criminal Justice Abstracts
• PAIS International (Public Affairs Information Service International)
• Social Work Abstracts
• Health Technology Assessment Database

• Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
  • "J Racial Ethn Health Disparities"[jour]
• International Journal for Equity in Health 
  • “Int J Equity Health”[jour]
• Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
  • “J Immigr Minor Health”[jour]
• Ethnicity & Health 
  • “Ethn Health”[jour]
• Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 
  • “J Health Care Poor Underserved”[jour]

• Tests and Measures LibGuide
• Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI) database

• Conduct new research into health disparities, minority health, and health inequities.
• Collect and share information on relevant past, ongoing, or planned activities of the Institutes and Centers to inform efforts that enhance equity, diversity, and inclusion within NIH and across the biomedical research community.
• Address racial, ethnic, and gender disparities at NIH.