The Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms is intended to enhance effective communication and action on the social and structural determinants of health and health equity. Having consistent terminology and understanding of concepts allows for greater clarity on points of influence and impact for action on health equity.
This 2022 version of the Glossary of Essential Health Equity Terms (an evolution and expansion of the 2014 version) contains 33 terms identified through consultation with public health practitioners and other key informants across Canada. Descriptions for each term were developed through an extensive review of existing glossaries from other sources, academic and grey literature. These were validated via survey feedback from public health colleagues across Canada. A number of citations are included within each definition – each citation number will link to the full citation within the reference list.
Recognizing that language is influenced by context and culture, we undertook separate development processes for the English and French glossaries, which are complementary but are not direct translations of each other. This process was extremely powerful and enlightening for both the developers of this glossary and for those who provided feedback, revealing new understandings of concepts and resulting in a higher quality of both the English and French versions. You can access the French glossary here.
Terms are organized into four groupings – Core Concepts, Roots of Health, Relative Influences, and Interventions & Strategies. Each grouping includes a number of related terms. Each term has a drop down option to reveal the description and related NCCDH resources to support further understanding and application of the concept.
We’d love to hear from you! Did you find the term you were looking for? If you have any comments or feedback on the glossary, e-mail us at nccdh@stfx.ca.
Acknowledgements & Suggested Citation
Thank you to the public health professionals who provided feedback through the initial user survey, validation, and focus testing phases. It is this guidance from the field that resulted in the terms selected and descriptions written.
Research, writing, and conceptualization by Dianne Oickle, Knowledge Translation Specialist. Developmental work, internal scoping and external partner consultations by Claire O’Gorman, formerly with NCCDH.
Webpage and content support by Caralyn Vossen, Knowledge Translation Coordinator. Internal guidance and review by Claire Betker, Scientific Director.
Thank you to our partner RÉFIPS (Réseau francophone international pour la promotion de la santé) in the development of the French version of the glossary Glossaire des principaux concepts liés à l’équité en santé
Please cite information contained in the document as follows: National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. (2022). Glossary of essential health equity terms. Antigonish, NS: National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, St. Francis Xavier University.
ISBN: 978-1-989241-84-4
Production of this document has been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada through funding for the NCCDH. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Last updated March 2022