The World Health Organisation (WHO) came up with the most commonly used definition for health, which has not changed for over 60 years. They say that it is ‘’a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’’ (WHO, 1948), therefore meaning there are many more things to consider with health other than just death rates. Inequality is known as the instance or condition of being unequal (Anon., 2003), therefore saying that inequality is when there are differences and when this is linked with the worldwide financial crisis, ‘it draws great attention to the world of the super-rich and the increases in inequality since 1980, which is returning the country back to a degree of inequality which was last seen around 1929 or maybe …show more content…
Does health inequality cause health and social problems?. [Online] Available at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/inequality-income-social-problems-full.pdf [Accessed 5 January 2014]. The Department of Health and Social Security, 1980. Inequalities in Health: Report of a working group, London: DHSS. Theorell et al., 1998. Decision latitude, job strain and myocardial infractions: a study of working men in Stockholm. Am J Public Health, Volume 88, pp. 382-388. WHO, 1948. Official Records of the World Health Organization. 7 April, Volume 2, p. 100. Wilkinson, R., 1996. Unhealthy societies: The afflictions of inequality. London: Routledge. Wilkinson, R., 1998. Mortality and distribution of income. Low relative income affects mortality. British Medical Journa, Volume 316, pp. 1611-1612. Wilkinson, R., 2005. The Impact of Inequality. Abingdon: Routledge. Wilkinson, R. & Pickett, K., 2009. The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better. London: Penguin. Woolf, S. & Braveman, P., 2011. ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY: Where Health Disparities Begin: The Role Of Social And Economic Determinants—And Why Current Policies May Make Matters Worse. Health Aff,
Adler, N. E., & Ostrove, J. M. (1999). Socioeconomic status and health: what we know and what we don't. Annals of the New York academy of Sciences, 896(1), 3-15.
People living in areas such as Playford, has shown to have a lower socioeconomic position, which made them at highest risk of poor health (WHO, 2017). Then, the social determinants of health support the understanding the difference between populations health levels, but also the reasons behind why some groups are healthier than others (Marmot, 2005) and the issue becomes a little bit deeper as people living in different areas related to others differently, so then the social stratification of health is affected by differences in gender, marital status, residential areas and ethnicity (Elstad,
Wilkinson, R. G., & Marmot, M. G. (2003). Social determinants of health: The solid facts.
Equality in health implies that ideally everyone should have a fair opportunity to attain his or her full health potential and, more reasonably, that no one should be disadvantaged from achieving this potential. Based on this definition, the aim of policy for equity and health is not to eliminate all health differences so that everyone has the same level and quality of health, but rather to reduce or eliminate those which result from factors which are considered to be avoidable and unfair. To appreciate the importance of striving for equity in relation to health, it is necessary to be aware of just how extensive are the differences in health found in the world today. In every part of the region, and in every type of political and social system, differences in health have been noted between different social groups and between different geographical areas in the same country (Whitehead 2000). There is consistent evidence that inequalities in health result in disadvantaged groups having poorer survival chances, suffering a heavier burden of illness, and sharing a similar pattern of low quality of life
Wilkinson, R.G. & Marmot, M.G. 2003, Social determinants of health: the solid facts, World Health Organization.
Working Group on Inequalities in Health (1982) Inequalities in Health (The Black Report), London, HMSO, 1982.
First, Richard Wilkinson is a highly respected sociologist and has spent his career studying the relationship between income inequality and social and health outcomes. His hypothesis provides the first comprehensive study and data analysis that shows the relationship between income inequality and social and health outcomes. His hypothesis has been tested by other researchers and most conclude that there is a relationship between income inequality and social outcomes. This realization is revolutionary, and because of Wilkinson’s hypothesis, more research is being done to understand the extent of these relationships and how to use these results to better our societies. Because of Wilkinson’s Income Inequality Hypothesis, it is now understood that there is an undeniable and statistically significant relationship between income inequality and societal and health
Health inequality is part of American life, intertwined and entangled with other social problems; gaps in income, education, age, race and gender. Gaps that social analysts cannot say for sure which factors are cause and which are effect. The unclear outcome is a huge chicken-and-egg puzzle, its solution reaching beyond health care. Because of that, everyday realities often control whether people live in health or in illness, to a ripe old age or early death. Clearly, poverty affects some groups more than others. The relationships between social class and general well being are persistent and troublesome; even in the twenty first century, life looks different for those belonging to upper and middle social classes compared to the lower social classes (Parsons 1942: 7).
...an, P., Egerter, S., & Williams, D. R. (2011). The social determinants of health: coming
These differences occur as a result of culture, race and geographical location as well as socioeconomic status (Andrews, & Boyle, 2008). Health disparities affect racial and ethnic minorities, low-income groups, women, children, older adults, residents of rural areas, and individuals with disabilities and special care needs (National Institutes of Health, 2010). Health disparities result in inadequate health care for affected populations with significant medical problems. Inadequate health care delivered in an untimely fashion ultimately requires more intervention to resolve worsening problems and also increases health care expenses for individuals, families, and communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008).
The essay will be looking at , poverty, employment and unemployment, poor diets as determinants of health in this context amongst other factors such as housing, mental health, social support network, education, culture, individual behaviours, genetics, gender because they have the best documented evidence on research in health inequalities in Britain available in the Black Report (DHSS 1980; Townsend, Davidson and Whitehead, 1992), Acheson Report (Acheson 1998), and FairSociety, HealthyLives Report, and other academic sources.
The health of an individual and their communities is affected by several elements which combine together. Whether an individual is healthy or not, is determined by their circumstances and environment.1 To a greater extent, factors such as where an individual lives, their relationships with family and friends, the state of their environment, income, genetics and level of education all have significant impacts on health, however the more frequently considered factors such as access and use of health care facilities regularly have less of an impact.6 Determinants of health is a term which was introduced in the 1970s as part of a broader analysis of research and policy on public health. Researchers argued that there was a lot of attention and too much expenditure on health being dedicated to individuals and their illnesses, and little or no investment in populations and their health. It was decided that public health should be more concerned with social policies and social determinants than with health facilities and the outcomes of diseases.7 The determinants of health include social and economic environment, physical environment and an individual’s behaviour and characteristics. The environment of an individual determines their health, holding responsible an individual for having poor health or acknowledging them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are not likely to be able to control several of the determinants of health. These determinants that make individuals healthy or not include the factors above, and numerous others.6
IPH . (2011).Social determinents and health inequalities. Available: http://www.publichealth.ie/service/social-determinants-health-inequalities . Last accessed 07 october 2014.
It is said that Disparities in health, begin at birth for many African-Americans and continues through life. There are many inequalities in this county that has often got over looked. Health inequality is part of American life, so deeply entangled with other social problems — disparities in income, education, housing, race, gender, and even geography that analysts have trouble saying which factors are cause and which are effect (D. C., Alvin Powell, Harvard Staff Writer) . Stated in the article there has been a clinical study providing solid evidence that the suspicion about black Americans face life-threatening inequalities in healthcare, which was published by the Journal of American Medical Association. Blacks were less likely than whites to receive medical
The World Health Organisation define health inequalities as; ‘differences in health status or in the distribution of health determinants between different population groups. Some health inequalities are attributed to biological variations or free choice and others are attributable to the external environment and conditions mainly outside the control of the individuals concerned’ (Who.int, 2013). Therefore, while some variation in health experience is unavoidable, much of it can be attributed to unequal opportunities, that is, social inequality (Tones and Green, 2004, p. 68).