Session 3 - Inequalities in Health Care

Question 1

Give the 6 reasons for inequalities in health

Answer 1

1. Behavioural
2. Artefact
3. Materialistic
4. Psychological
5. Income distrubution
6. Social selection

Question 2

Describe the behavioural explanation for health inequalities

Answer 2

Those who are in the lower socioeconomic class engage in more risky behaviours. Illness is due to choices

Question 3

What are the limitations to the behavioural model>

Answer 3

Choice is sometimes governed by circumstance
Choice is often limited
Behaviour is a product of social processes as well

Question 4

Describe the artefact explanation

Answer 4

Inequalities due to the methods the data was collected…most discreted theory

Question 5

Describe the materialistic explanation

Answer 5

Inequalities in health due to those in the lower socioeconomic class don’t have access to decent material resources.

Lack of choice means they many be exposed to environments or situations that can influence production of disease (poor working conditions/ poor housing)

Question 6

Describe the income distribution explanation

Answer 6

Countries whose income is more equally distributed have an overall better health.

The richest countries do not have better health the more equal ones do

Question 7

Describe the psychological explanation

Answer 7

Lower socioeconomic groups may have more stressors. They may have coping mechanisms which negatively impact health.
Also, stress can have direct effects on health (CVS stuff, decreased immunity and mental health)

Question 8

Describe the social selection explanation

Answer 8

Low economic class does not cause bad health but bad health leads to being in a lower socioeconomic class.
Ill health means you are unable to progress up the social hierarchy and are more likely to fall down

Question 9

What is the difference between inequality and inequity?

Answer 9

Inequality - when things are different (not equal)

Inequity - inequalities which are unfair and avoidable

Question 10

Why might those in a lower socioeconomic class have poorer health (NOT THE 6 EXPLANATIONS)

Answer 10

• Normalisation of ill health
• Difficulty mobilising resources to see the doctor (transport, time off work, looking after kids)
• Lack of cultural alignment
• Tendency to manage health as a series of crises
• Adjudications of technical and social eligibility by doctors may effect refers and offers (class my dictate a doctors opinion)

Question 11

How might gender cause inequalities?

Answer 11

Biological factors
Social factors (discrimination, occupation, gender roles)

Question 12

How might ethnicity cause inequalities?

Answer 12

Potential discrimination towards patients which may discourage future engagement in healthcare
Decrease use of specialist services
Cultural misalignments
Ethnic groups may be prone to more conditions for genetic reasons

Question 13

How can we measure inequalities?

Answer 13

Mortality
Diagnosis and admission rates
Life expectancy
Census (how is your general health?)