Lecture 5 and 6 Flashcards
What should we do about health inequalities?
Hard to argue we that we should do nothing
Also hard to see how we could remove all health inequities (enormous and not feasible easy to get rid of)
So we need to use our scarce resources to obtain the best outcomes (bang for buck/most efficient way)
What are the 3 reasons for better understanding health inequalities?
We will be better at/more able to:
- Justify the need for interventions
- Design more effective interventions
- Choose more efficient interventions
What sort of model is needed to explain the social inequalities in health?
Isn’t too general
Is focused on social factors(need to know range which influences), but not too detailed
Useful for developing solutions/interventions
What are examples of general social models?
Biopsychosocial Model
Dahlgren and Whitehead Social Model
- these are too general, don’t tell about the context, doesn’t tell how these things relate to each other
What are examples of specific social models?
Foresight report (for obesity) Mindmap overlap one Not useful as a general model as it is too conditional/disease specific
How can we improve the biopsychosocial model?
Focus on social and expand(with 4 explanations): “social processes and context”
Collapse the rest into health + stress: “individual psychological, biological and cellular processes”
What are the 4x social factor explanations?
Social processes and contexts into 4x Factors/explanations:
- Resources (Material / Structural)
- Culture and Behaviour
- Historical Context
- Social Selection/Discrimination
What is the Black report?
1980
Showed enormous burden suffered by lower economic groups
Material/Structural (Phys and NonPhys) Resource
Culture and Behaviour (Victim blaming)
Natural/Social Selection
Artefact
Focus on reducing which ever one has biggest impact
-ve: Doesn’t take historical content into account
What are examples of Material Resources?
Required in order to be healthy:
income
food
shelter
What are examples of Physical structural resources?
Required in order to be healthy
access to health services
education
healthy environment (parks, shops etc.)
What are examples of Non-physical structural resources?
Required in order to be healthy
Social support/capital
Policies and Legislation/Regulation
What is the relevance of Material and Structural resources?
Being healthy requires material and structural resources (material, physical structural, nonphysical structural)
Potentially relevant to any health inequalities between social groups that have different levels of resources
This is usually seen as a CAUSE of health inequalities:
-but we’ll see how different levels of resources can be an EFFECT of health inequalities too
sick=less ability to work=labelled as lazy = but could also be sick due to lack of resources
What are examples of Cultural/Behavioural Factors?
Social Norms Peer Pressure Social Expectations In-group/Out-group effects Obedience Conformity
What is the relevance of Culture and Behaviour?
Different groups in society may have different cultures and behaviours, which may be more of less “healthy”
Relevant to inequalities in health that could be as a result of different cultures/behaviours between groups
This explanation has often been mistakenly interpreted as a victim blaming explanation (people’s bad choices) (we aren’t hardwired/genetically programmed to behave badly)
-but well see how culture and behaviour are highly related to the other explanations and should NOT be viewed independently
This is usually seen as a CAUSE of health inequalities
-but we’ll also see how cultural/behavioural differences can be an AFFECT of health inequalities
= less resources to be able to make better food choices
What are examples of Social Selection/Discrimination?
Racism
Sexism
Ageism
Disability-related discrimination
What is the relevance of Social Selection/Discrimination?
Relates primarily to discrimination
People with health problems are less likely to thrive in society(jobs, relationships) , and are more likely to face discrimination
Discrimination is the EFFECT of health inequalities
Discrimination (unrelated or related to health status) can also CAUSE health inequalities
=physical impairment = on health status or potential to have bad health problems = employment with chronic impairment
Some people with health impairments can end up with more impairments due to discrimination
What are some examples of Historical Context in social models?
Migration (e.g. Pacifica 1992)
Colonisation (Maori)
Conflict (not so big in NZ)
Natural Disasters (Chch earthquake health problems)
What is the relevance of Historical Context?
Some historical events leave lasting effects on social groups
Colonisation/Migration: groups who have migrated to another country (particularly one that is dissimilar to their own) or who have be colonised (particularly where land and other resources have been lost) tend to have more health problems
This is usually seen as a CAUSE of health inequalities
Not effect as you can’t take away all the impact/influence of history
What does the more Realistic model contain?
Links between
Resources and Culture/Behaviour
Culture/Behaviour and Social Selection/Discrimination
Social Selection/Discrimination and Resources
Historical Context and Social selection/Discrimination