Socioeconomic Factors and Health Outcomes - Research Proposal Example

Health Inequalities The relation of income and health in the United Kingdom has been in the focus since time immemorial. In 1969, statistics showed that the disparities arising from the two factors had surpassed its threshold. In 1971 and 2005, life expectancy improved for everyone despite the widening gap in social classes (Davis 2011, pg13). It is no doubt that inequalities in health do exist and there is a strong association between socio economic factors and health outcomes. Therefore, regional and national health care providers, councils and community groups should take action to mitigate the impacts of poverty on healthy life expectancies in relation to lifestyle factors such as smoking & exercise maternal & child health (BARTLEY 1998, pg12). What is the problem? Poverty can be viewed in numerous approaches that include disparities in income, education access to health and access to basic needs of life. Owing to the availability of numerous data, these disparities can be compiled on platforms such as global, regional and national overviews. This comparison can be used to determine trends in relation of poverty and ill health. In addition, the way of life of a community exposes the particular community to health inequalities. Although life style may not be influenced by the same factors that characterize disparities brought by poverty, it contributes to nearly half of cases of premature mortality. One of the major focuses on lifestyle that does promote health inequalities is the ability to initiate behaviors of smoking tobacco and ability to quit the same (Davis 2011, pg56). It has been reported that six percent of children in the UK have ever smoked before. This is an alarming revelation since in 2006 – 2007, 1.4 million hospital admissions were registered with primary diagnosis that are associated with smoking. Also, studies have revealed that individuals who smoke at early stages of life are likely to smoke for longer in the life spans as compared to other smokers (DORLING, SHAW & SMITH 2001, pg51). In England, the difference in infant mortality among the rich and poor has a widening gap since 1997. Also, the poor are likely to die earlier than the rich in addition to longer durations of ill health. The Marmot review noted there is a seven years difference in life years expectancy between the rich and the poor. He further noted that there is a difference of 17 years in life devoid of disability between the two communities (BARTLEY 1998, pg69). Marmot further highlights variations by location where by in Chelsea life expectancy is 88 as compared to that of 71 in Tottenham Green the capitals’ poorer wards. Low income and social deprivation are related with poor lifestyle and chronic illnesses. Why is it a problem? Socioeconomic status is connected to numerous health disparities. A low socio economic status relates quite immensely on health with increased mortality and disparities especially in the middle adulthood between 45 and 65 years of age. Low socio economic status is further linked to poor lifestyles and ways that do not promote health. This include poor diet with minimum fiber, over rated consumption of alcohol and lack of exercise. Education is the most important factor of socio economic status because it determines future careers and income (RAPHAEL 2012, pg16). Also, more and higher quality of education determines the ease of accessibility to information on health and resources necessary for endorsing health. Additionally, cognitive abilities relate with success in education, income and better health (Marmot 2010, pg13). In 1990, the UK government acknowledged that children from poor backgrounds were most likely to develop lower cognitive ability early in life. This was likely to prevent these children from academic success (RAPHAEL 2012, pg156). Income is the basic factor in determining levels of socio economic status. Not only does income buy healthcare but it provides better living conditions, nutrition and leisure. It is for this reason that income levels and distribution of incomes within communities is linked to mortality rates (RAPHAEL 2012, pg73). Very little research has been done on effect of income distribution and its effect on health outcomes. In Eastern Europe, a drop of life expectancy was observed in the fall of communism. This proves that variances in social life have vivid evidences within a shorter time frame as compared to other indirect changes (Marmot 2010, pg29). Policy attention is always drifted towards the availability, affordability and accessibility of health care. In Europe, contrary to the American Countries, health care is universal. This was established in the aim of reducing health inequalities. However, with the factors that are underlying in socio economic status the incidence of disease and injury is high among those in socio economic status. What needs to change to solve/address this problem? Since education is significant in determining inequalities in health, policies should encourage more duration of education. However at the moment, policies that value benefits of longer duration of education are not coined around improving health of a community. Instead they focus on other values such as boosting human capital, increased human productivity and improving socialization (SMITH 2003, pg45). Social environments and social economic status are collaboratively influential on the ultimate health, income raise and educational attainment of a community. It is for this purpose that isolation and disengagement of individuals and marginalized communities should be discouraged. This is because mortality rates associated with social exclusion are five times higher than those with excellent social connections (SMITH 2003, pg117). The nature and scale of health inequalities in the UK and strategies to address the problem The magnitude of chronic illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, heart diseases and obesity in England have been on the rise. Half of these complications arise from smoking and poor lifestyle such as lack of physical activities (Marmot 2010, pg33). Levels of obesity in Britain are the highest in the region with prevalence of 6 out every ten individuals up from that of one in every ten individuals. To add on that, 84, 000 lives are lost annually due to smoking related illnesses (ASTHANA & HALLIDAY 2006, pg65). The losses incurred by the economy arising from illnesses of the working population amounts to £ 75 billion annually leading to an accumulated economic loss worth £130,000. The maternal and child health in the lower socio economic status population is highly influenced by the income levels. The raised cost of living amidst difficulties in securing employments in the suitable positions leads to poverty, poor lifestyles and lower productivity. Children living in poverty are more susceptible to shorter life expectancies and poor health outcomes. Parents from minority ethnic groups and those who are unemployed are likely to have low socio economic status. Consequently, children from these families are more likely to indulge in poor health behaviors like smoking (Marmot 2010, pg27). They also have higher levels of pregnancies among the teenagers. Global development agenda support and simplified development targets are the focus in the millennium development goals (MDGs). The MDGs concept is very instrumental in shaping and influencing and manipulating global health priorities in the United Kingdom. The health priorities should be tailored to address the economic, social and environmental health determinants. In order to reduce poverty, various strategies have been recommended. These include improving access to childcare using key indicators in that highlight inequalities in health associated with child poverty. These indicators include life expectancy at birth and infant mortality rates. Reduced life expectancies are often related with increased levels of deprivation. On the other hand, childhood in poverty results in higher mortality rates due to compromised maternity health and inaccessibility to quality healthcare. In Essex, social deprivation due to poverty and infant mortality are closely related. The specific issues identified in maternal and child health that could promote health inequities include infant mortality, maternal health, breast feeding and teenage pregnancies. Compromised health is one of the direct effects that poverty is likely to impart in an infant’s life in the United Kingdom. In economics, poverty and ill health are symbiotic. This is because it is believed that the poor are less likely to spend much in promoting health due to other limited income alongside unlimited demands. Consequently, these individuals lack the good health to enhance productivity and their own skills. This therefore gives a cycle of poverty and ill health. In infant mortality, a third of births of infants with underweight is associated with inequalities in economics. Low birth weight, perinatal mortality and infant mortality pre exposes the infants to various complications which demand long term hospitalization. This puts additional strain on the families with inflexible socio economic status. A big influencer on infant mortality is the maternal health. Mothers that grew up in deprivation are more likely to smoke during pregnancy. Maternal smoking and high maternal depression levels are common in low income households. Mostly, this affects the teenage mothers. Teenage pregnancies are highly related to disengagement from education and poor health outcomes. This results in lower breastfeeding behavior and consequently poor immunity in infants and higher infant mort mortality levels (GREAT BRITAIN 2008, pg92). In order to curb the above noted inequalities intersectional action should be promoted. Currently, the UK government initiated a variety of approaches on social security, job opportunities and education targeting the of low economic status communities with particular attention in childhood. Also, focus on distribution of resources based on strategies within the healthcare system that integrate services not related to the system need to be considered. As mentioned earlier, various aspects lead to health inequalities. These include geographical aspects, socio economic status aspects, ethnic aspects, gender variations and age aspects. However this report only focuses on how socio economic aspects relate with other health determinants and indicators. Equitable of resources in the UK is a challenge throughout its history. Using the Acheson Report the needs based weighting in resource allocation is an appropriate approach towards reducing health inequalities. For this reason, one of the main health priorities in the UK government involve increasing length life of people and illness free life span. With reference to the Action Committee on Resource Allocation, resource distribution to curb health inequities should be evidence based by relying on information generated from accurate data collected on the indicators. This requires monitoring and evaluation on aspects of regional variations. Challenges in addressing socio economic health inequities There are various challenges that loom in local group partnerships due to more influential power and advocacy power of the partnerships. This could result in conflict in allocation of resources. Also, due to poverty, the cognitive abilities. Additionally, the implementation of policies laid down by the proposed actions may require numerous factors that are likely to influence on sustainability of the strategies. Influence of organizations in tackling the health inequities The inputs of organizations/companies/schemes to address socio economic status and health inequities are universal (HARTHORN & OAKS 2003, pg25). The governments of various states in the world are actively involved in programmes aimed at reducing health inequities. Also, with more research and analysis of existing health and demographic data, various factors that influence health have been identified. Through the established indicators for actualizing targets such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the World Health Organization (WHO) serves as a universal force to ensure adherence (Dreaper 2010, pg42). Health promotions that are more or less not focused on the poor have potential in increasing socio economic status disparities. This is because only those with adequate resources to act accordingly in relation to that particular information will be ready to take action. In terms of exercise, the Acheson Commission endorsement to encourage walking and cycling is a good example to the entire United Kingdom leaders and policy makers (HARTHORN & OAKS 2003, pg161). Therefore the availability of well-lit corridors and provision of bike lanes will ensure individuals have exercise contrary to their sedentary lifestyles (LENARD & STRAEHLE 2012, pg76). In Essex, the health inequalities strategies 2009 has been laid out to guide maternal and child health disparities along with teenage pregnancies. On the other hand, the Welsh Health Plan has a high stake in prioritizing eradication of health inequalities. They do this by ensuring equity in public access of health care (Dreaper 2010, pg31). The Health Impact Assessments are used as an instrument to measure effects of health policies on health and its inequities. The partnership between the agencies and governments are maintained with adequate flow of information (HARTHORN & OAKS 2003, pg114). The World Economic Forum emphasized the need for primary health care in the workplace to ensure productivity of its employees and competitive advantage for the companies (ASADA 2007, pg4165). For instance, Unilever Company is on the forefront of promoting healthy lifestyles. This is because health results to a higher productivity. In order to prove this, the company conducted a survey on productivity of its employees. They found out that the employees with poor score in health risks assessment had lower productivity as compared to the 8.5% efficiency of those with higher scores (LENARD & STRAEHLE 2012, pg90). In wales, the health care system has been reorganized to promote partnerships and decentralization. Strengthening the roles of local health groups have positive impact on strategic planning. Also innovative approaches by organizations and companies to promote health should be fully supports by the local health groups. This enables partnerships which aid in the emphasis of reducing health inequities and developing multi sectoral approaches (Dreaper 2010, pg67). Employers are encouraged to invest in health of their employees. Cognitive behavioral therapy and counselling of employees will enable them to respond appropriately to anxiety, work place stress and depression. Consequently, the preventive health care results in reduced public expenditures on health. Also, better lifestyles devoid of smoking and sedentary lifestyles are discouraged (ASADA 2007, pg44). The agenda to promote sport and physical activity contrary to motivation to have motorized transport should be emphasized. It has been noted that rates of obesity in UK have been scaling among both adults and children. Creation of avenues for sports, cycling and walking can serve to reduce health disparities that arise form sedentary lifestyles. Finally, indicators for progress towards achieving all the objectives towards reducing inequities in health should be defined. This indicators should be related to increase in life expectancy in lower socio economic status community, lower infant mortality, increased productivity in the workplace and improved maternal and child health (Shaw 2012, pg05). Advantages of public involvement in local group partnership include increased equitable access to health services, empowered advocacy for the marginalized groups and increased community activity. On the other hand the disadvantages of valuing health among groups could result in anxiety and lack of commitment and stigmatization. Recommendations Poverty among the marginalized groups is observed to result in social exclusion. In order to curb this, policies on comprehensive information this enables the development of tolerable societies. It has been observed that the European community has gradually drifted to individualistic way of life. With networking groups, the marginalized groups can be integrated into the decision making process in eradicating poverty, poor maternal health and poor lifestyle. Secondly, the resource base of those in social exclusion should be achieved through establishing user rights to natural resources. Then investment of infrastructure among the marginalized groups can be used to improve their connectivity. Ultimately, this will help in realizing the millennium development goals. Thirdly, incorporating public health policy with health inequalities with focus on poverty, lifestyle and maternal and child health will improve social equity in health. In Denmark and Finland, the issue of inequalities in health is tackled within a section of public health policy (Shaw 2012, pg11). The Denmark’s government believes that health equity in the society is fundamental for the basic values of welfare. For this purpose a programme dubbed Healthy throughout Life was endorsed as the most recent strategy. In conclusion, it is important that poverty and income inequalities are appropriately differentiated in public health policies. Recommendations should be implemented alongside priorities and indicators so as to ensure effectiveness and sustainability of programmes. Also, the public should be actively involved in decision making processes regarding approaches to address the dynamic health inequalities. Finally, innovative approaches that encourage healthy lifestyles should be promoted for reduction of morbidity in chronic illnesses. References ASADA, Y. (2007). Health inequality: morality and measurement. Toronto, University of Toronto Press. ASTHANA, S., & HALLIDAY, J. (2006). What works in tackling health inequalities? pathways, policies, and practice through the lifecourse. Bristol, UK, Policy Press. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10281205. BARTLEY, M. (1998). The sociology of health inequalities. Oxford, Blackwell Publ. BARTLEY, M. (1998). The sociology of health inequalities. Oxford, Blackwell Publ. Davis, Rowena (2011). A close call on health inequalities. The Guardian. Wednesday 16th February 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/feb/16/health-inequalities- wealth-life-expectancy [Accessed 20/02/12gt; DORLING, D., SHAW, M., & SMITH, G. 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