Poverty and inequality

Question 1

What is the income distribution theory?

Answer 1

Relative income within the country matters more than gross national product with regards to inequalities

UK rich but has steep gradient of inequity of wealth

Question 2

How does economic inequality harm societies?

Answer 2

Affected factors: 
Life expectancy
Maths and literacy
Homicides
Imprisonment
Teenage births
Trust
Obesity
Mental illness - inc. drug and alcohol addiction
Social mobility

Question 3

What are the 6 features of Marmot: Fair Society?

Answer 3

1 Give every child best start
2 Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise capabilities and control lives
3 Create fair employment and good work for all
4 Ensure healthy standard of living
5 Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities
6 Strengthen role and impact of health prevention

Question 4

What are the arguments stated in the black report?

Answer 4

Social selection - social class determine health related social mobility - ill so cant work so move down social class

Behavioural/cultural - class difference in behaviours that are health damaging

Artefact - due to way results collected

Materialist - different access to material hazards - no choice in this

Question 5

What is the psychosocial explanation for health inequality?

Answer 5

In addition to effect of material living standards, people of lower socioeconomic status may have increased stressors and reduced ability to deal with them

Question 6

What reasons are suggested for deprived groups accessing GP services more?

Answer 6

Ill health is normalised
Manage health in series of crises - as and when things become problem
Tendency to use most accessible service
Difficulty marshalling resources needed for negotiation and engagement with health services

Question 7

What is the difference between inequality and inequity?

Answer 7

Inequality is when things are different

Inequity is when differences are unfair and avoidable

Question 8

What are the parts of the MUST score?

Answer 8

BMI

% weight loss

Acutely ill

All out of 2

Question 9

What should you do for the patient with regards to each MUST score?

Answer 9

0 low risk - wait
1 - observations
2 - manage

Question 10

What is the inverse care law?

Answer 10

Those who need medical care the most, are the least likely to receive it and vice versa

Question 11

What sociological factors impact health inequalities?

Answer 11

Income and social status - high income and social status linked to better health

Education - low education levels linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence

Physical environment - safe water and clean air, healthy work places, safe houses, communities etc.

Social support networks - better networks associated with better health