2 - Understanding and Addressing Inequalities

Question 1

In the most deprived areas, what fraction of their life can people can expect to spend in good health?

Answer 1

2/3

Question 2

In the least deprived areas, what fraction of their life can people can expect to spend in good health?

Answer 2

4/5

Question 3

What can health inequality be defined as?

Answer 3

Differences in health status or in the distribution of health determinants between different population groups.

Some are unavoidable e.g. difference in mobility between young and old.

Question 4

What is health inequity?

Answer 4

Health inequalities that are “unnecessary and avoidable as well as unfair and unjust”

Differences in health status or in the distribution of health resources between different population groups, arising from the social conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.

Question 5

Equality vs equity?

Answer 5

Although both promote fairness, equality achieves this through treating everyone the same regardless of need, while equity achieves this through treating people differently dependent on need.

Question 6

Equal healthcare vs equitable healthcare?

Answer 6

Equal: Giving everyone the same level of care (e.g. same budget for every patient).

Equitable: Giving everyone the level care of they need to be healthy (e.g. smaller/larger budgets for those with lesser/greater needs.

Care needs to be equitable to reduce health inequalities