Accounting for the multi-factorial nature of health disparities

An understanding of the interplay between socio-political and biological factors is crucial in navigating the evolving landscape of health in the 21st century. Healthcare professionals need to understand the interaction between these complex factors to avoid the consequences of not fully appreciating their effects on health disparities. Using two relevant case examples, namely the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the impact of Apartheid legislation on households in South Africa, I will endeavour to illustrate the need for a nuanced, biologically-grounded but sociologically-cognizant understanding of health disparities.