Which of the following terms is synonymous with 'impairment' regarding health?

The term 'disability' is synonymous with 'impairment' in the context of health as both refer to a significant limitation in physical or mental functioning. An impairment often manifests as a reduction in the ability to perform certain activities or actions that are typical for a person without that impairment. Disability encompasses a broader range of conditions and effects, acknowledging not only the impairment itself but also how it impacts a person's everyday life and participation in society. This aligns with modern health definitions that recognize disability as the interaction between the impairment and environmental or personal factors.

By contrast, the other terms do not carry the same specific connotations. For example, 'handicap' may refer to social or environmental disadvantages that arise due to an impairment, but it is not a direct synonym. 'Equity' relates to fairness and justice in the distribution of resources, and 'access' pertains to the ability to utilize or gain entry to resources or services. While all these concepts are important in discussions about health and disability, they do not equate directly to 'impairment' as 'disability' does.