(2) Socio-economic Inequalities In Health Flashcards
How can socio-economic status be measured?
Based on:
Individual occupation
= national statistics socio-economic classification
Geographical residential area
= index of multiple deprivation
What is the link between deprivation and (ill) health?
More deprived a person is:
Larger proportion of their life is in ill health, more likely to die at a young age
What are the explanations for inequalities in health?
(1) artefact
(2) social selection
(3) behavioural-cultural
(4) materialist
(5) psychosocial
(6) income distribution
What is the black report?
Puts inequalities on the political and research agenda
4 explanations for inequalities in health:
- artefact
- social selection
- behavioural-cultural
- materialist
What is the artefact explanation (black report)?
Health inequalities are evident due to way statistics are collected (re-measurement of class)
What is the social selection explanation (black report)?
Direction of causation is from health to social position
Sick people move down hierarchy, healthy people move up
What is the behavioural-cultural explanation (black report)?
Ill health is due to people’s choices/decisions, knowledge and goals
(Disadvantaged people more likely to engage in health-damaging behaviours)
What is the materialist explanation (black report)?
Inequalities in health arise from differential access to material resources
What is the psychosocial explanation?
E.g. stress impacts health
Direct = physiological, immune system Indirect = health related behaviour, mental health
What is the income distribution explanation?
Relative income affects health
in countries: larger income gaps = worse performance on health and social problems
Why does income distribution affect health inequalities?
Associated with psychological explanation !!
/\ income inequality
/\ social-evaluative threat
/\ stress
\/ health
Which of the black report explanations have the most merit?
Materialist
How can we measure access to healthcare?
Utilisation studies measure receipt of services
What do deprived groups use more/less?
More: GP; emergency services
Less: preventive; specialist services
