Socio-economic And Political Influences On Health

Question 1

What are the reasons for the social and economic gradient of health?

Answer 1

Access to health care
Environmental exposures
Health behaviours
Life course factors

Question 2

What factors of access to health care affect the social economic gradient of health?

Answer 2

Accessibility
Affordability
Acceptability

Question 3

What factors of environmental exposures impact social and economic gradient of health?

Answer 3

The physical environment i.e. smog
The social environment - use of guns , constant frightening environment

Constant psychological stress can lead to

• increased blood pressure
• impaired glucose tolerance
• immune dysregulation (spots)
• oxidative cellular stress with accelarated ageing

Question 4

What life course factors can influence the social and economic gradient of health?

Answer 4

Childhood experiences can impact adult health such as:
Nutrition
Trauma
Optimism
Nurture
Education

Question 5

what might the government introduce to reduce obesity?

Answer 5

• increase tax on ‘bad’ unhealthy foods such as sugary sweets/drinks and alcohol
• ban advertisement of unhealthy habits such as smoking/alcohol and unhealthy foods and drinks
• transport policy i.e introduce more cycle lanes
• provide funding on NHS for obesity i.e. specialised clinics and bariatric surgery
• health education of diet and exercise
• healthy eating schemes in schools
• improve exercise and sport facilities

Question 6

what might the government do to improve health overall?

Answer 6

legislations policies on smoking/alcohol
improving housing
provision of health education
health and safety law
traffic/ transport legislations/policies

Question 7

what is the definition of culture?

Answer 7

complex whole which includes knowledge/ beliefs /art / morals / laws / customs /systems of shared ideas, systems of concepts and meanings that underlie and are expressed in the ways that human beings live

Question 8

what is the definition of ethnicity?

Answer 8

cultural practises and outlooks that characterise and distinguish a certain group of people: characteristics identifying an ethnic group may include a common language, common customs and beliefs and tradition

Question 9

what is the definition of race?

Answer 9

a group of people linked by biological / genetic factors