Inequalities in Health

Question 1

What do most sociologists agree on about health inequalities?

Answer 1

Economic deprivation may be the major factor causing health inequalities

Question 2

What are 3 findings of the Social Trends 33 (2003) report?

Answer 2

• Working class in England and Wales have higher infant mortality rate than the UK national average. The wealthiest social groups have lower infant mortality rates than the national average.
• Working-class people are statistically more likely to suffer from serious medical conditions e.g heart disease, strokes, and cancer.
• Working-class people are more likely to die before retirement age than the national average.

Question 3

What did the Black Report (1980) confirm?

Answer 3

The poorer you are, the less healthy you’re likely to be

Question 4

What is the Inverse Care Law?

Answer 4

Those with the most need for healthcare get the least, and those with the least need get the most.

Question 5

What are cultural explanations?

Answer 5

Differences in health being attributed to the values held and choices made by different social groups.

Question 6

What does cultural deprivation theory look at?

Answer 6

Cultural explanation that looks at differences between social classes.

Question 7

What are 2 things that cultural deprivation theory says about health?

Answer 7

• Working class lead relatively unhealthy lifestyles with poor diets, more smoking, less exercise, and more drinking. These are known as behavioural factors.
• Working class less likely to take advantage of NHS public health measures e.g vaccinations, screening, antenatal care

Question 8

What did Howlett and Ashley (1991) find?

Answer 8

Middle class more likely to be informed about health and understanding of health issues, therefore following healthier lifestyles.

Question 9

What does cultural deprivation theory suggest about health education?

Answer 9

Society needs better health education to make people aware of health issues. It resulted in government initiatives through the Health Education Authority trying to get people to give up smoking, have healthier diets, etc

Question 10

Why do some sociologists such as Shaw et al (2008) disagree with cultural explanations?

Answer 10

• They believe the differences in illness are caused by the way society is structured.
• The middle class is healthier than the working class because society gives the poor less chance to stay healthy.

Question 11

What are 6 structural issues leading to health inequalities?

Answer 11

1) Healthier diets can cost more, and gyms are often expensive.
2) Smoking and drinking may be linked to stressful lives, not cultural values.
3) Working-class people are less likely to be able to afford private healthcare.
4) Poor housing can cause health problems e.g damp housing leads to respiratory problemms.
5) Living in high-crime areas can contribute to stress, as can worrying about bills.
6) Working-class people not taking advantage of public health facilities has been blamed on feeling intimidated by health care professionals (they are mostly middle class and healthcare can seem as if it is set up to suit middle-class)

Question 12

What did the Black Report (1980) conclude?

Answer 12

Material factors were the major cause of health inequalities

Question 13

How much longer do women live than men in the UK and why?

Answer 13

• 4 years on average
• Men are more likely to smoke and drink heavily and are more likely to have physical, dangerous jobs
• Men take more risks leading to more accidental deaths (behavioural factor)
• These contribute to lower life expectancy

Question 14

What does data show about women’s health?

Answer 14

• Women have more morbidity throughout their lives

- Women spend greater portion of their life with disability, and go to the doctor more often.

Question 15

What may the gender differences in health and mortality be caused by?

Answer 15

• Biology e.g due to pregnancy/childbirth
• Women suffer from more mental health issues
• Graham (1984) suggested women are more likely to go without food/heating when they have financial difficulty, which could contribute to increased health issues

Question 16

What are 4 facts of the relationship between ethnicity and health?

Answer 16

1) Indian people have a higher rate of heart disease
2) African-Carribean people have a higher incidence of stroke, HIV/AIDS, and schizophrenia
3) Suicide rates are relatively high among Asian women
4) Sickle-cell anemia common in people of African origin

Question 17

What is an example of cultural factors affecting the health of ethnic minorities?

Answer 17

British Chinese people were less likely to seek help for mental health problems due to stigma

Question 18

What is another factor affecting ethnic groups’ health

Answer 18

Material deprivation due to ethnic groups being heavily concentrated in the low social classes

Question 19

How do morbidity and mortality rates vary across the UK?

Answer 19

• People in Scotland are more likely to die of lung cancer than people in England
• People in south of England live more of their lives without a disability than people in the north of England

Question 20

What are 2 small scale differences of living in different areas of a country?

Answer 20

1) Social class - local variations in income/deprivation
2) Social capital - refers to the existence of social networks and a sense of community spirit.
- Research has shown that where these things exist, people are more likely to have better health and well-being.