Economic Inequality and Health - Essay Example

Does economic inequality affect our health? Does equality make us healthier? Whether economic inequality affects our health is an area that has been studied in the past. According to Auger, Nathalie & Carolyne Alix (2009), in the state as well as the city data, mortality is absolutely and appreciably correlated with almost every measure of inequality in the income. When we compare whites and blacks in terms of income, whites have higher incomes and lower mortality rates. This is also evidence in places where the population has a large portion of blacks. These places are relatively high in both mortality and income inequality. Being anxious about status might give an explanation to the effect of income inequality on health and social problems. If this is true, inequality causes harm because it places people in a pecking order which enhances competition for rank. This will in turn cause stress and lead to poor health along with other negative results. As Curry-Stevens, Ann (2009) cites that not every research shows an autonomous effect of income inequality on health and social problems. Some underlines the role of individual income (poverty or material circumstances), ethnicity, and culture in addition to welfare state institutions/social policies. Social and economic inequality is harmful to the health of any society, especially when the society is varied, multicultural, overpopulated and going through rapid but unequal economic growth. Equality can lead to better health since it will eliminate stresses intrinsic in highly unequal societies. These stresses essentially affect our bodies and psychologies leading to high rates of mental illness, obesity, violence, and disease. Tremblay, Diane-Gabrielle (2009) Chapter five—Precarious work and the labour market, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 75-87 Auger, Nathalie & Carolyne Alix (2009) Chapter four—Income, income distribution, and health in Canada, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 61-74 Curry-Stevens, Ann (2009) Chapter three—When economic growth doesn’t trickle down: The wage dimensions of income polarization, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 41-60 2. How does our organization of work lead to ill health? How can we change this? Work is a significant determinant of health. It can manipulate health positively or negatively. Many people work essentially for economic, social in addition to physical wellbeing. At the work place, we have hazards and risks. A hazard is the possibility to cause harm. Risk is a gauge of the probability of a particular harmful effect in specific circumstances. Hazards in the workplace comprise the following:-  Ergonomic; Posture, movement, load bearing like patient handling; noise, like in industrial environments, usually measured in vibrations and decibels; Non-ionizing radiation like microwaves, visible, infra red, and ultra-violet light; temperature, can either be high or low, causing harm to people. ; Ionizing radiation like X-rays, beta particles, gamma rays and alpha particles Smith, Peter & Michael (2009). Another health hazard in the work environment is chemicals which are either organic or in-organic. These can be inhaled, swallowed or affect the skin when contacted. Another category of health hazards at the work place is the biological aspect which consists of; Infections like bacteria, Allergens that originate biologically like in laboratory animals and viruses like Hepatitis B from needle stick injuries. The last category is the psychological aspect which present stress in the workplace leading to illness. We can however change our work environment by assessing the health risks. This is done by identification of hazards and assessing the work practices. Evaluation and monitoring is encouraged. This is achieved by appropriate health surveillance. Lastly, prevention of control risks is done as a way of handling the work environment. It is realized when appropriate work organization and practice, hazard exclusion, ventilating the local exhaust, hazard substitution, personal protection like masks. Smith, Peter & Michael Polanyi (2009) Chapter eight—Understanding and improving the health of work, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 114-124 Tompa, Emile, et al (2009) Chapter six—Labour market flexibility and worker insecurity, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 88-98 Jackson, Andrew (2009). The unhealthy Canadian workplace, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 99-113 3. How has capitalism shaped our approach to health? What are some alternatives? The practice of capitalism is not compatible with universal health care.  Since capitalism rewards financial achievement, and, apparently, health insurance companies that are obsessed with profit maximization can most easily do so by concession on the quality of their service, selectively deciding on whom to insure, and finding ways to edge out or refute claims.  These capitalistic inducements have thrived in offering us what we have at present, a health care system that is of generally high quality but only favors the wealthy.  Capitalism creates industrial diseases; the concentration of the population to bear industry ensures swift spread of infectious disease Hornosty, Jennie & Germov (2012). Lack of proper drinking water and sewage leads to the premature death of millions of people. For this very reason, there are many well-known examples of doctors from unindustrialized nations who on realizing the futility of trying to cure, decide to fight capitalism instead. In addition, there is a grave universal inequality of health resources. Public health officers use the term the 10/90 gap. The wealthiest 10% of humanity obtains 90% of all spending on health research, leaving the poorest 90% with only 10%. This makes the capitalist profit drive antagonistic to public health. If medical care is founded on fee-for service as well as on private profits, cures will forever be favored over prevention. Public health promotion calls for long-term social planning while capitalism is obsessed with short-term private profit. Unless and until a significant public alternative is available in which positive health results and universal access substitute the profit motive as the motivating force of the system, we will only be going around the boundaries of the problem.   Anleu, Sharon & Jennie Hornosty (2012) Chapter nine—The medicalization of society, in John Germov & Jennie Hornosty (eds.) Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology—Canadian Edition (Toronto: Oxford University Press) pp. 168-186 Hornosty, Jennie & John Germov (2012) Chapter twelve—Medicine, medical dominance, and public health, in John Germov & Jennie Hornosty (eds.) Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology—Canadian Edition (Toronto: Oxford University Press) pp. 230-253 Langille, David (2009) Chapter twenty—Follow the money: How business and politics define our health, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 305-317 4. What political interventions are needed? What are some challenges to organizing? Political interventions in health inequalities can be achieved by use of human rights framework. The framework may discus topics to be directed to policy makers in addition to the civil society organizations that exercise influence on policy makers. This can be done by organizing conferences on health, health reforms, and civil society, holding seminars on health inequalities in the country, establishing and encompassing served as secretariat of the Civil Society Forum, coming up with literature on health and inequalities. These literatures may include books, magazines and articles. They may also provide advice to international organizations concerning policy matters. These human rights framework however experience challenges and barriers such as; lack of preventive care. This is due to many people being uninsured. Lack of insurance cover makes it impossible for one to receive preventive services in healthcare Lee and Jo-Anne (2009). Another challenge is the provider discrimination. This occurs when the health care providers either unconsciously or consciously give unequal treatment to certain racial and ethnic patients differently than other patients. It may be as a result of stereotypes that providers may have towards ethnic or racial groups. Lastly there could be a problem with patient-provider communication. Communication being critical for the delivery of suitable and effective treatment and care, in spite of of a patient’s race, miscommunication can lead to incorrect diagnosis, inappropriate use of medications, and failure to obtain follow-up care. The relationship between patient and provider is dependent on the ability of both persons to effectively converse Coleen et al (2011). Raphael, Dennis & Ann Curry-Stevens (2009) Chapter twenty-four—Surmounting the barriers: Making action on the social determinants of health a public policy priority, in Dennis Raphael (ed.) Social Determinants of Health—Second Edition (Toronto: Canadian Scholars Press) pp. 362-377 Lee, Jo-Anne (2009) Chapter eighteen—Intersectional feminist frameworks in practice: CRIAW’s journey toward intersectional feminist frameworks, implications for equity in health, in Olena Hankivsky (ed.) Health Inequities in Canada: Intersectional Frameworks and Practices (Vancouver: UBC Press) pp. 349-362 Vancoe, Coleen et al (2011) Chapter seventeen—Intersectionality justice, and influencing policy, in Olena Hankivsky (ed.) Health Inequities in Canada: Intersectional Frameworks and Practices (Vancouver: UBC Press) pp. 331-348 Read More