Poverty

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Lastly, another lifestyle choice that can be blamed for the ill health of the population is poverty.

Question 2

Explain 1

Answer 2

People living in poverty find it harder to live healthy lives, harder to access NHS services, live with greater illness and die earlier than the rest of the population.

Question 3

Example 1

Answer 3

For example, the Scottish Government reported in 2023, that for cancer of the trachea, bronchus and the lung, the reported rate was 116.8 per 100,000 people in the most deprived 10 per cent of the population, compared to just 23.6 per 100,000 in the least deprived 10 per cent of the population.

Question 4

Analysis 1

Answer 4

This suggests that because poverty is the main thing contributing to all other factors, it could arguably be more significant than other factors the cause health inequalities in Scotland.

Question 5

Rebuttal

Answer 5

However, some people argue that drug consumption is a more significant factor of health inequalities in Scotland.

Question 6

Explain 2

Answer 6

This is because Scotland has long had the highest drug related death rate of any country in all of Europe.

Question 6

Example 2

Answer 6

For example, according to data from the National Records of Scotland, in 2020 there were a record 1,339 drug related deaths, with figures for 2021 showing a decrease of just nine from the year before.

Question 7

Analysis 2

Answer 7

This suggests that because 54% of drug related hospital admissions were patients living in the 20% most deprived areas, drug consumption could arguably be a more significant factor than others.

Question 8

Link

Answer 8

Overall, due to that fact people turn to drugs as a coping mechanism to escape their circumstances, anxiety, or hopelessness because of deprivation, it is clear that poverty is arguably a more significant factor than some others when explaining health inequalities in Scotland.