health inequalities

Question 1

what are health inequalities

Answer 1

avoidableinequalities in health between groups of people within countries and between countries.

Social and economic conditions and their effects on people’s lives determine their risk of illness and the actions taken to prevent them becoming ill or treat illness when it occurs.

Question 2

social determinants of health

Answer 2

born
grow up
live 
work 
age

Question 3

define poverty

Answer 3

cannot afford the basic need of life - food, clothin, shelter

Question 4

possible indicators of abuse

Answer 4

• no explanation for injuries or inconsistency with the account of what happened
• injuries are inconsistent with the person’s lifestyle
• bruising, cuts, welts, burns and/or marks on the body or loss of hair in clumps
• frequent injuries
• unexplainedfalls
• subdued or changed behaviour in the presence
of a particular person
• signs of malnutrition
• failure to seek medical treatment or frequent changes of GP

Question 5

possible indicators of sexual abuse

Answer 5

• bruising, particularly to the thighs, buttocks and upper arms and marks on the neck
• torn, stained or bloody underclothing
• bleeding, pain or itching in the genital area
• unusual difficulty in walking or sitting
• foreign bodies in genital or rectal openings
• infections, unexplained genital discharge, or
sexually transmitted diseases
• pregnancy in a woman who is unable to consent
to sexual intercourse
• the uncharacteristic use of explicit sexual
language or significant changes in sexual
behaviour or attitude
• incontinence not related to any medical
diagnosis
• self-harming
• poor concentration, withdrawal, sleep
disturbance
• excessivefear/apprehensionof,orwithdrawal
from, relationships
• fear of receiving help with personal care
• reluctance to be alone with a particular person.

Question 6

how is homelessness is assessed

Answer 6

1. Are they homeless, or likely to be made homeless in the next 56 days?
2. Are they eligible for assistance in England?
3. Are they in ‘priority need’?
4. Do they have a local connection? If not, which local authority should they be referred to?
5. Are they intentionally homeless? In this situation support does not need to be provided. The local authority can say you made yourself ‘intentionally homeless’ if you are homeless because of something you deliberately did or failed to do (a ‘deliberate act or omission’).

Question 7

what do local authorities do

Answer 7

• carry out an assessment of the person’s circumstances and needs.
• draw up a plan of action for resolving (‘relieving’) or preventing homelessness. The plan of action is likely to set out certain steps a person is required to take. If they fail to take a required step, the local authority can say they have ‘deliberately and unreasonably refused to cooperate’.
• take ‘reasonable steps’ to help for around 56 days (help may be for a longer or shorter period).

Question 8

homelessnes impact on health and wellbeing

Answer 8

average age of death 47

• struggle to access quality health and social care
• poor mental health
• old ones increase falls
• corrective lenses and hearing aids may not be affordable or damaged
• bullied by younger ones

Question 9

preventative measures of homelessness

Answer 9

• monitoring rent arrears for signs of risk or vulnerability;
• help with social security benefit;
• help with financial problems;
• assessing for vulnerability in primary healthcare settings; and
• collaborative working between professional agencies.

Question 10

what is the homelessness reduction act 2018

Answer 10

• Duty to prevent homelessness
• Duty to relieve homelessness

The Act requires local authorities to provide free services to give people in their area information and advice on:

• preventing homelessness;
• securing accommodation if homeless;
• the rights of people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness; and
• any help that is available for people who are homeless or likely to become homeless, as well as how to access that help.

Question 11

define poverty

Answer 11

household with an income below 60% of the current median (or typical) household income, taking into account the number of people living in the household.

Question 12

which groups are more at risk of living in poverty than others

Answer 12

• private tenants
• social rented secotr
  ethinic minority - asian, BLACK

Question 13

Dual system for diasbled

Answer 13

Central government pays disability benefits, whilst local authorities manage the provision of social care services. Two quite separate systems with little overlap.

Question 14

what is material deprivation rate

Answer 14

The indicator measures the percentage of the population that cannot afford at least three of the following nine items:

to pay their rent, mortgage or utility bills;
to keep their home adequately warm;
to face unexpected expenses;
to eat meat or proteins regularly;
to go on holiday;
a television set;
a washing machine;
a car;
a telephone.

Question 15

coping mechanisms of living w low income

Answer 15

1. maximising income through claiming benefits, (link to benefits below)
2. staying in work ,
3. cutting down,
4. doing without wherever possible,
5. turning down social invitations due to cost, and
6. adopting a mind-set of ‘making do’.