Society and Oral health

Question 1

What is sociology?

Answer 1

• The study of human group and social Norms
• The study of how society functions or not
• Focuses on two interrelated areas of study: social factors and recurrent relationships among people.
• Patterned human relationships, groups of people acting in an organised way.
• Attempt to explain different forces or influences that shape the society.

Question 2

What does socialisation connect one generation to?

Answer 2

It connects one generation to another and hugely influences the developing shape of society

Question 3

Define social norms

Answer 3

Rules of conduct which specify appropriate behaviour in a given range of social contexts

Question 4

What is a norm>

Answer 4

It either prescribes a given type of behaviour or forbids it

Question 5

Define social values

Answer 5

Ideas held by human individuals or groups about what is desirable, proper, good or bad

Question 6

Name some of the social determinants that can affect health

Answer 6

Social position
Environment 
Food and transport policies 
Early children experience 
Poverty 
Unemployment 
Social and psychological 
Social and economic circumstances

Question 7

What are the 6 social factors that affect health?

Answer 7

1. Fixed factors
2. Lifestyle and behaviour
3. Social, psychological and cultural
4. Socio-economic factors
5. Access to services
6. Environment §

Question 8

How can social inequalities arise?

Answer 8

• Can come from social structure eg class
• Marx didn’t say poor people are poor because they were immoral, deserved to be.
• Argued that control of power, economic resources and wealth lead to social stratification, a class structure.
• The position you were born determined the likely outcome of your health, wealth, education and future occupation

Question 9

Define health inequality

Answer 9

Describes differences in health between different population groups e.g. age, disability, socio-economic status, geographical area, sex and ethnicity

Question 10

Define health inequity

Answer 10

Describes differences in opportunity for different population groups which result in unequal access to health services, nutritious food, adequate housing, resources, etc.

Question 11

What differences can lead to health inequalities?

Answer 11

Differences between groups in terms of:

1. differential health outcomes, such as Mortality, life expectancy, infant mortality, maternal health–morbidity
2. Risk exposure
3. Vulnerability
4. Beliefs/ attitudes/ behaviours that impact on health
5. Access to services etc

Question 12

Those who are more advantages backgrounds had what?

Answer 12

Less decay
•More teeth
•lower proportion of edentate
•Less bleeding gums
•Less deep pocketing (>6mm)
•Less dental pain
•Fewer open pulps
•Less ulceration or fistula

Question 13

What things can people be discriminated on?

Answer 13

1. Age
2. Sex
3. Gender preferences/ sexual orientation
4. Race
5. Disability
6. Class

Question 14

Define racism

Answer 14

Conduct or words or practice which advantage or disadvantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. Its subtle form is as damaging as its overt form

Question 15

What is institutional racism?

Answer 15

The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin.
It can be seen or detected in processes attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people.