Health inequalities Flashcards

1
Q

What’s the definition of health inequality?

A

Differences between people or groups that have been socially constructed, not due to differences in genetics or physiology

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2
Q

Describe the relationship between health and socio-economic disadvantage

A

The more deprived a person = higher proportion of their life spent in ill health. More likely to die at young age.

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3
Q

Examples of social determinants

A

Occupation
Geographical area
Income

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4
Q

What are some explanations for health inequalities?

A

Black report (artefact, social selection, behavioural-cultural, materialist)
Psychosocial
Income distribution

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5
Q

Evaluate psychosocial explanation to health inequalities

A

Negative life events, lack of social support and autonomy at work contribute to social gradient.
-direct impact= physiological, immune system
-indirect impact= mental health, health related behaviours

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6
Q

Evaluate income distribution explanation to health inequalities

A

Relative income affects health
Countries with greatest income equalities have greater health inequalities
Most egalitarian(equal) societies have best health
Increased income equality= increased stress, decreased health
Redistributive policies- decrease income inequality may improve social/health factors

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7
Q

What are the features of the black report?

A

Artefact- health inequalities evident due to way statistics are measured.

Social selection- direction of causation is from health to social position

Behavioural-cultural- ill health due to people’s choices. Disadvantaged background, more likely to engage in more health damaging behaviours.

Materialist- inequalities in health arise from differential access to material resources

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8
Q

Evaluate artefact in black report

A

Concerns about quality of data and method of measurement.
Most discredited explanation
Data problems usually lead to underestimation

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9
Q

Evaluation social selection explanation of black report

A

Sick people move down social hierarchy, healthy people more up.
Disabled people at a disadvantage.
Plausible explanation but minor contribution

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10
Q

Evaluate behavioural-cultural explanation of black report

A

People from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to engage in more health-damaging behaviours.
Limitations: ‘choices’ difficult to exercise in difficult decisions, ‘choices’ rational due to lack of resources, behaviour is outcome of social process.

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11
Q

Evaluate materialist explanation of black report

A

MOST plausible explanation
Lack of choice in exposure in hazard
Accumulation of factors across life-course

Limitations: future research needed to determine which material deprivation causes ill health

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12
Q

How is access to healthcare measured?

A

Utilisation studies measure receipt of services

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13
Q

Evaluate utilisation studies

A

Limitation: people who have no access

It’s difficult to interpret and controversial

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14
Q

How do deprived groups tend to use healthcare services?

A

Increased use of GP and emergency services

Decreased use in preventative (screening) and specialist services (cancer treatment)

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15
Q

What is the Deprivation and access theory?

A

Evidence of poorer access for lower socioeconomic groups.
Manage health as series of crises
Normalisation of ill health
Difficulty assembling resources needed for engagement of health services

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