Social Exclusion And Health Flashcards
What is the definition of health inequalities?
Preventable and unjust differences in health status between groups / individuals. Arise from the unequal distribution of social, environmental and economic conditions within societies. These conditions determine the risk of people getting ill, their ability to prevent illness, or opportunities to access treatment when illness occurs.
What is the inverse care law?
Principle that the availability of good medical / social care tends to vary inversely with the need of the population served.
Examples of groups vulnerable to health inequalities?
- homeless people
- travellers
- asylum seekers
- LGBTQ+
- ex-prisoners
- care leavers
- people with learning disabilities
- people with mental health problems
- BAME
- low socioeconomic groups
What are some health problems faced by homeless people?
- serious mental illness
- substance misuse / addiction
- infectious diseases (e.g. TB, hepatitis)
- injuries following assault / rape / accidents
- STI
- malnutrition
- poor condition of feet
- dental problems
- chronic physical health conditions
Barriers to accessing healthcare for homeless people?
- difficulties registering with GP
- discrimination
- health may not be a priority
What health problems affect travellers?
- higher rates of miscarriages, stillbirths, neonatal deaths, pregnancy complications
- higher rates of maternal death
- mental illness & suicide
- chronic respiratory / cardiac conditions (asthma, angina, bronchitis)
What barriers to accessing healthcare do travellers face?
- registering & accessing GP services: no permanent address, frequent relocation
- mistrust of professionals
- difficulty navigating the NHS
- health beliefs - reluctance to seek medical attention until the condition has become very serious
What health beliefs might travellers have?
- pride in self-reliance
- stoicism and tolerance of ill health
- fear of terminal diagnoses & avoidance of screening
- nihilistic attitudes to illness (it is inevitable and treatment is unlikely to make a difference)
- stigma around mental health
- gender-related rules: women may not discuss health issues with male family members, must see doctor of the same sex
What health problems affect LBGTQ+ individuals?
- mental illness & suicide
- substance misuse & addiction
- STIs
- victims of crime & violence
Barriers to accessing healthcare faced by LGBTQ+ individuals?
- previous negative experiences
- stigma
- fear of / experience of homophobia & transphobia
Physical health problems affecting asylum seekers and refugees?
- injuries from war / travelling
- torture
- sexual abuse
- infectious disease
- malnutrition
- untreated chronic disease
- lack of immunisations
Mental health problems affecting asylum seekers & refugees?
- PTSD
- depression
- sleep disturbance
- psychosis
- self-harm
What are some barriers to accessing healthcare faced by refugees / asylum seekers?
- difficulty navigating the NHS
- language barriers & inadequate interpretation
- cultural & communication differences
- discrimination
- financial concerns (e.g. prescriptions, dental care)
- transport to appointments
- frequent relocation by the Home Office
What is human trafficking?
Movement of people, by force / fraud / coercion / deception, with the aim of exploiting them.
What types of exploitation may be involved in human trafficking?
- sexual
- organ harvesting
- domestic servitude
- forced labour
- forced criminality
