This is due to social class. The higher the class the higher the standard of care. Researchers found that some of the 7500 deaths that are among people younger than the age of 65 could have been prevented could have been prevented if inequalities in wealth narrowed to their 1983 levels. If a baby girl is born in leeds she is more than twice as likely to die in the first year of life compared to an infant girl growing up in a dorset town. Alot of studies into health inequalities rely on morality, death, and morbidity, illness, data.
World health organisation (WHO, 2011) defines relative poverty contextually as economic inequality in the location or society in which people live. The report also reported that the lower an individual’s socioeconomic position, the worse their health becomes One of the effect of poverty on health as described by (Marmot et al 2010), is
For instance, it is often perceived that people of a lower income (middle or lower class) are in less of a physical, mental and indeed, social state of health than those in a higher social class. This is evident from birth. Low birthweight is associated with a greatly increased risk of death in the first year of life as well as serious illness and lifelong disability. Longitudinal studies show that children who were low birthweight experience a greater risk of developing learning and behavioural difficulties and have lower educational attainment and socio-economic status as adults. (Institute of Public Health, Ireland, www.publichealth.ie, accessed 16/10/2007) The reason, as it is widely assumed, for low birthweight among less wealthy people is that they have a tendency to take less care of themselves than more privileged people.
3. Psycho Social Influences * What are the psychological and Social causes for this inequality in health E.G. Why is heart disease more prevalent in lower socioeconomic groups? What are the direct and indirect influences on this inequality? * Structure * Housing * Education * Employment * Geographical and Social Isolation * Poverty * Agency Inequalities in health such as can lead to a variety of conditions such as 4.
Drugs and Poverty and their link Poverty is not only a lack of sufficient income or material possessions. It is also a condition in which people lack prestige and have less access to resources. The poor often have different lifestyles and different values from those of people not living in poverty. The conditions that poor people often cope with may include: unemployment or off-and-on employment, low-status and low-skill jobs, unstable family and relationships, low involvement in the community, a sense of being isolated from society, low ambition, and feelings of helplessness. Many people living in poverty are divorced, are single parents, or have unhappy marriages.
According to Howarth et al this is due to the perceived lack of sufficient data on this topic, although recent social exclusion (PSE) surveys and reports offer a great scope of the issue. At present there are around 11 million pensioners in the UK: 4 million men and 7 million women. Pensioners make up around 18% of the population and this is an ever increasing statistic as the life expectancy age has risen (ONS, 1999). Not only are the older generations living longer healthier lives, on average the position of pensioners in current society has been improving, for example in the 1980-1990s when pensioners incomes grew by two thirds (DSS, 2002). These changes have enabled greater independence for some
Access to primary and secondary health services differ for Maori and non Maori. research identifies Maori are less likely to be referred for specialist or surgical care and receive lower levels of hospital care than non Maori. A survey has shown that 38 percent of Maori adults had problems with obtaining required health services in their local area compared to 16 percent of non Maori. (2) Socio economic factors also contribute to the poor health of Maori. Socio economic factors refer to the social standing of a individual or group, this is measured by education, income and occupation.
(2013) discussed that Hispanic patients has higher rate of disease activity than white even though they have a high rate of drug adherence. In addition, the African American patients has a lower rate of clinical remission than other race and ethnicity groups and a high rate of erosion than white. It gives the Hispanics and African Americans the urgency to prevent the onset of the disease ahead or receive treatment as earlier as they can to reduce the associated
The reasons for these inequalities are linked with socioeconomic status, ethnicity, gender and the geographical area in which people live. There is also statistical evidence which highlights the fact that Maori, Pacific Islanders and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are dying at a younger age and generally have poorer health than other New Zealanders (Ministry of Health [MOH], 2002). The Reducing Inequalities in Health report (MOH, 2002) states that the primary causes of health inequality in New Zealand are directly related to the distribution of and access to resources such as income, education, employment and housing. The report also states that another major influence on this inequality in health is the difference in how and when people access health care services and how that care may differ between those receiving the services. This is also said to have a significant impact both on peoples’ health status and mortality rates.
For example, both urban and rural suicide rates decreased, male suicide rates became higher than those of the females, and elderly suicide significantly increased. The most recent decade of the 2010s moulded the distinction between the traditional suicide profile in the rural areas that were immensely affected by the collapse of communes and the rise of migration. As for the city areas, the urbanisation and modernisation have improved the livelihood of the younger generation. However, the ageing of society, urban life stressors, mental health issues, and rising living prices are putting their toll on the metropolitan society. Without the positive economic growth and urbanisation rates, these factors may lead to a new upsurge in the suicide rates.