Health Inequalities and Social Class - Essay Example

? Obesity in social al Affiliation: Health Inequalities and Social Social has been associated with health inequalities for a long time. This has been depicted in the mortality rate where the average age of death among the rich is high compared to the poor. With the establishment of national health services there has been an enhanced health condition among all social classes. However there is still a connection between social class and unequal use of medical services, infant mortality rate and life expectancy according to Lundberg, Hemmingsson and Hogstedt (2007). Despite the welfare states as well as health improvement in all areas of the society, the link between health and social class has always remained a major issue. While the failure to end the social gap is a humiliation to many, some claim that provided health parameters are improving at all societal levels there is no big deal. There has also remained a wide difference all health parameters in relation to the social class. Social class is a complex issue and involves a wide range of issues such wealth, background, status, culture and employment. The function of medicine is health promotion, disease prevention and cure as well as rehabilitation of the cured as suggested by Lundberg (2007). All these functions are largely social therefore medicine can be viewed as a social science as well as a health science. There are various reasons for the health inequalities in social class and can be explained by the following. Artifact is one of the factors which imply that inequalities in society are demonstrated in different ways of measuring social class. The pitch of class differences in as far as health is regarded in society depends to some extend on measurement of health and class in that society. Natural and social selection is another factor for the inequality and explains that unhealthy remain behind the social scale as the healthy have the high chance of social development. Hence people with poor health experience a turn down in socio-economic situations while the healthy ones rise. Culture provides another explanation for health inequality and social class. It explains that those in lower social class favor less healthy styles such as consuming more fatty foods, a lot of smoking and less exercise as opposed to the higher social class people. Thus the different choices between the different social classes create their health inequalities according to Bartley (2004). The material explanation for this inequality suggests that poverty, poor provision of health and educational resources, poor housing and highly risky occupations characterizing the life of the life of the lower social class determines their poor health. However some diseases such as obesity are more prevalence within the rich families. Social capital is also another factor and it argues that how people engage in community through work, club membership, social organizations, family and other social groups has an effect to their health. This explains the idea that social isolation is dangerous to ones health where the unemployed and retired respond poorly to health as opposed to the employed. How Obesity is Linked with Social Class and Factors Which Influence the Health Status of Individuals and Groups The effect of social class on obesity is very substantial. As a result the issue of obesity is becoming an epidemic of its own kind as it is increasingly rising. Thus the media has doubled its coverage of issues related to obesity. It has established that lowers income earning families and those in the lowers social class are more prone to becoming obese as opposed to middle class and upper class. Thus there is no doubt to argue that obesity related to social class as suggested by Chambers and Wakley (2002). For one it is being common to those in the regular and semi-regular employment than the professional employment. The link between the two is more evident among women of the two different classes. Social origins of various social classes are also linked to obesity. For instance social behavior such as diet and exercise associated with upper social class prevents obesity. In some countries low occupations used to be associated with women obesity. This is because in most cases the community pressurizes women working in professional jobs to remain slim. The different lifestyles in various social classes determines their fate incase of obesity. For instance those who earn more have enough cash to spend on activities which promote health and consume health foods. The same is associated with children whereby those come from higher income earners have low obesity rates according to Andersen (2003).. Obesity is also associated with availability of free school meals associated with areas of low income earnings. Factors Influencing Health of Individuals and Groups Can Be Categorized Into Environmental, Social and Economic Factors Among the environmental factors there are both internal and external factors. The internal environmental factors are usually related to the body functioning and system. One of this is the hereditary factor where by an individual or group may suffer from a diseases inherited from their kin. There are also congenital factors which are associated with individual to individual sexual infection. This can be closely related to behavior acquired diseases through eating, smoking, attitudes and values as suggested by Wilhelm (2008). In the case of external environment factors, there is the geographical area within which the individual or group lives. For instance those who live in tropical areas are highly prone to malaria. The work environment within which the individual lives is also influential to their health, for instance in workplace where the individual is overworked it is more likely that they will suffer from depression. Environmental pollution also influences the health status of individuals. For instance those who stay near factories suffer from poor breathing due to a lot of smoke. Poor housing may also influence health. The type of micro-organisms, animals and plants found in a specific area greatly influences the health of those living in that environment. There are also social and economic factors whereby education is one of the social factors. The level of education of parents greatly determines the health status of their children according to Morgan and Kunkel (2006). This especially to children under the age five whose health is depended on feeding habits, early detection of sickness and prevention. Availability of health services is also another factor and it implies that in a place where people are not in a position to access health services it is likely that they will live in poor health. The level of income influences health status in that it determines the living standards of the individual which in turn determine their level of healthy. Social differences among individuals also determine their health status as suggested by Harrington and Crawford (2004). For instance in a case where there has been frequent conflicts people tend to grow weary with poor health. Aging is another factor and it influences people health in that the older the individual the weak the body immune system hence easily vulnerable to diseases. Relationship between Structure Position and Health Status The structure position and health are two issues which have implied a strong relationship. Since health is associated with every human being and so is the structure, therefore the link between the two cannot be ignored. Different structures have different positions and it is this position which determines the health status of those involved in that structure according to Jones (2006). The higher the position of a structure the high the value hence higher standards of health are maintained. The various functions performed at each structure position also influence health status of those involved. Health information is usually important in describing the structure position of the countries health departments. Most health behaviors, social ties and attitudes are important links between health status and structural position as suggested by Hoffmann (2008). It is in this case that social stratification of structures is likely to cause diseases. Health Inequalities and Unfair Distribution of Health Care Services Health inequalities are usually experienced in across all populations. Aspects such as genetics and constitutional variation are major causes of individual health variation. Healthy inequality is also experienced in terms of aging whereby the older generation often gets sick compared to the young as suggested by Kirby (2000). There is also health variation as a result of gender, For instance women early industrialized nations possess an advantage of survival as opposed to men in all life stages. It is difficult to counter this health inequality since it is hard to avoid some of this factors which lead to health inequality. For instance, it is hard to change the health status of an individual suffering from a genetic disease. Individuals from well off socioeconomic groups have long live expectancy and good health as opposed to those from poor socioeconomic groups according to Smith (2003). The overwhelming unfair distribution of health care services has been a major threat to health inequality. In areas where accessibility to health services is poor, people tend to survive in ill health as opposed to areas where health services are readily available. Some hospitals also lack enough health care resources such as accommodation facilities, lack of electricity and less number of health physicians. As a result in such a case health care services become rarely to the society leading to health inequalities. Reference list Andersen,R. (2003). Obesity: etiology, assessment, treatment, and prevention. Illinois: Human Kinetics Bartley,M. (2004). Health inequality: an introduction to theories, concepts, and methods. New York: Wiley-Blackwell. Chambers, R. & Wakley, G. (2002). Obesity and Overweight Matters in Primary Care. London: Radcliffe Publishing Kirby, M. (2000). Sociology in perspective. London: Heinemann Lundberg, I. Hemmingsson,T. & Hogstedt, C. (2007). Work and social inequalities in health in Europe. New York: Peter Lang Lundberg, O. (2007). Health inequalities and welfare resources: continuity and change in Sweden. London: The Policy Press Morgan, L. & Kunkel, S. (2006). Aging, society and the life course. London: Springer Publishing Company, Harrington, C. & Crawford,C. (2004). Health policy: crisis and reform in the U.S. health care delivery system. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning Hoffmann, R. (2008). Socioeconomic differences in old age mortality. London: Springer Jones, A. (2006). The Elgar companion to health economics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, Smith,G, D. (2003). Health inequalities: lifecourse approaches. London: The Policy Press, Wilhelm,K.(2008). Encyclopedia of Public Health. London: Springer, Read More