Lecture 13: Measuring The Socio-economic Determinants Of Health Flashcards
What is socio-economic position?
The social and economic factors the influence what positions individuals or groups hold within the structure of a society
What are the three key characteristics of determinants?
Objective
Measurable
Meaningful
Other names for socio-economic position?
Socio-economic status, social class, social stratification, socio-economic background
Why measure socio-economic position?
- to quantify the level of inequality within or between societies
- may highlight changes to population structures over time (census periods or generations)
-help understand relationship between health and social variables e.g age
Have been associated with health and life chances
Two types of incomes to measure in surveys?
Personal income (can be sensitive) and household income (family size needed, useful indicator for women)
Two ways to measure income?
Absolute measures and categorical measures
Why is measure of income important?
- most direct measure of material resources
- have a dose-response association with health
- have a cumulative effect over life course
- have the greatest potential to change over a short duration
Define measuring education
Measuring knowledge related assets of an individual
Two types of education measurement?
- Continuous variable (e.g years of education)
- Categorical variable (education attainments)
Pros of measuring education?
- shows transition of SEP from parent to personal
- believed to have association with ability to respond to health promotion message
- easy to obtain (good response rate)
Cons of measuring education?
Cohort effect
Different standards of education in different countries
How is occupation measured?
The NZSEI groups jobs by potential income
Can be measured as: current or longest held position, or parental occupation
Occupation is transferable- head of household
Importance of occupation?
Close association with income
Reflects social standing
Individuals experience occupational or social motility over life course
What does occupation influence?
Social network
Work-related stress
Occupational exposure to environmental risks
What is NEET?
“Not in education, employment or training”
An indicator of SEP, considers ideal pathways for school leavers
Not used to describe identity of individuals or groups, but their situation or official status
Relates Le k of education to increased mortality rate
Define social gradient
The fact that inequalities in population health status are related to inequalities in social status
Odds ratio equation?
(A/c)/(b/d)
What is the Preston curve representative of?
The cross sectional relationship between life expectancy and real per capita income
(Increase income means increased life expectancy)
Which SEP measure is transferable?
Occupation (eg “head of household” for spouse and dependants)
Which SEP measure has s cumulative affect over the lifetime and has greatest potential to change over a short duration?
Income
What measure can show trends in SEP between parents to personal?
Education
Does the mothers education affect infant mortality rates?
Yes
Who is the NZSEI by?
Statistics NZ
How many NZSEI categories are there?
6
What are the three health variables asked in the NZSEI?
Health status (self assessed poor health) Behavioural indicator (cigarette smoking) Health service utilisation (GP visits in the last year)
What are the 6 classes in the NZSEI?
- Legislators and administrators
- Professionals (eg teaching, health sciences, engineers)
- Managers, armed forces, associate professionals
- Trade workers, clerks
- Service workers, sales people,
- Agricultural and fishery workers
What is class 1 of NZSEI?
Administrators and legislators
What’s class 6 of NZSEI?
Agricultural and fisheries workers
Do you need to be working to be included in NZSEI?
Yes
Is there a smoking social gradient in NZSEI?
Yes
