Inequalities in Health and Illness - PowerPoint Presentation Example

?Topic: Inequalities in Health and Illness Introduction The study of health and illness is no longer a new phenomenon. In fact, in the field of medicine every health and illness related issues that suddenly emerge can be quickly provided with definition and explanation in just a short period of investigation. However, in the past few decades, it has been observed that the study of health and illness goes beyond from simple explanation of their biological or medical (internal) causes, i.e. infection, bleeding or other body malfunction or damage. The dramatic change in this field had took place when sociologist researchers began to interlinked and considered the social (external) factors that influenced the inequalities in health and illness. The underlying reason of this is the fact that the gap between the rich and the poor in health and illness is continuously widening due to rapid changes in the society. This alarmed the researchers in this field because of the increasing rate of morbidity and mortality among the poor and poor countries. Therefore, several sociologists determined various factors that adversely affect inequalities in health and illness. These wider social factors included income difference, poverty, housing, and education. According to White (2008, 1), these factors are the result of unequal distribution of political, economic, and social resources which is very essential in achieving a healthy life. Further, sociologist also claimed that individual person have varied health and illness inequalities because of the difference in gender, class, ethnicity and lifestyle factors, i.e. smoking, diet or nutrition, exercise, stressful working conditions and to name a few (House of Commons; London, 2009). Access to healthcare (House of Commons, 2009) as well as the role of medical of the medical professions (White, 2008) has also major contribution to the inequalities of health and illness of an individual. This discussion would seek to impart the important aspects and matters related to health and illness. It aimed to end health and illness inequalities between rich and poor, among men and women, young and old, etc. Therefore, through providing proper and adequate information, the audience is expected to learn and share this information to other people in order to achieve a wider sense of a sound and healthy life. Discussion The Sociology of Health and illness The sociology of health and illness is far different from sociology of medicine. It is because the former is more focused with the social origins and influences of health and illness rather than with their internal causes as manifested by individual bodies. The main objective of the former field is to explore into on how inequalities affects each individual health and illness. However for the purpose of better understanding, it is only necessary to define first the two important words in this discussion which is the health and illness. As cited in the work of Bury (1997), the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined health as the “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infinity.” Hence, the wrong notion of many people should be corrected that health is not only the absence of disease or illness. Being totally healthy should comprise all the necessary aspects of life as defined by the WHO. Further, people should learn continuously improve their total well-being and not only seek attention when they suffer from illness or disease. Meanwhile, Bury (1997) also referred illness as the “occurring when normal functions went awry.” However, as mentioned, researchers on sociology of health and illness are more concern on the complex relationship of social (external) factors that causes illness to an individual rather than on their pathological explanation. Causes of Health and Illness inequalities As White (2008) and the London House of Commons (2009) revealed in their researches, there are several underlying cause of inequalities in health and illness. The House of Commons (2009) had emphasized that inequalities are not only the results of socio-economic class of an individual person, i.e. work/employment status, income, housing, education and living condition. It is also influenced by individual lifestyle, access to health care and among others. Similar research conducted by Hilary (2004) had also proved that health inequalities varied from one person to other person. Aside from socio-economic factors, her research had also determined the impact of ethnic inequalities in health as well as gender inequalities. The works of Annandale and Hunt (2000) have also further explained the effects of gender inequalities in health. Socio-economic factors Base on the research of White (2008, 1), the experience of health and illness is an “outcome of the organization of the society.” The socioeconomic position or status of an individual was considered as the wider causes of inequalities in health and illness. According to Graham (2004, 3) socioeconomic position is refers to “an individual’s place in the social hierarchies built around education, occupation and income.” These components are found to be important because they shape and influence the individual’s living standard as well as their life chances. For example, due to poverty, parents could not afford to acquire education for their children; hence, they would end up on the same situation like, no or low occupation, and no or low income. With this situation, of course people in this class are more likely to suffer inequalities. As White (2008, 1) explained that “poor living and working conditions make people sicker and poorer people die earlier, than their counterparts at the top of the social system.” The poorest in the society are more likely the victims of inequality because they have lesser opportunities and means to adopt beneficial health behaviors. Further, because of lack in financial aspect, the poor remains to be ignorant on how to behave healthily and on how to access resources in order to live a healthy life. In fact, those people in the marginal lines are the ones who are most likely to acquire illnesses or diseases easily because of poor living conditions, i.e. poor housing and environment, poor nutrition or diet and poor access to healthcare assistance. In addition, due to lack of access to health and illness information, the poor are also the ones, who have poor health lifestyles, i.e. smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption and to name a few. The underlying reason is that people who face much more immediate and serious problems, i.e. unemployment, starvation, etc, health is not their ultimate priority (House of Common, 2009). Therefore, they do not mind the negative effects of their lifestyle into their health. In connection to health and illness, sufficient resources such as money, knowledge, information, etc. are very essential. For example, simply put the impact of income differences, of course people who have higher income are more likely to have better health because they could afford to buy proper and healthy foods, to live in better house, to acquire more health education and information and afford to have regular medical checkups although they don’t have any illnesses (White, 2008). On the other hand, people who have lower income are less likely to live a healthy life because they do not have enough money to acquire those opportunities (House of the Commons, 2009). Due to socioeconomic inequalities, mortality rate between rich and poor are have also significant difference. Several studies have proved that the poor continue to die earlier while the rich to live longer. The most common reason of this is that the rich people have healthier lifestyle because they could afford to live a healthier life. Lifestyle factors Lifestyle of an individual person also influenced the inequalities in health and illness. It is also determined and has strong relationship to the socioeconomic position of a person. Lifestyle included all the aspects in life that has “proximate causes to health inequalities” (House of Commons, 2009, 21). These could include smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition, weight, drug use, sexual behavior, stress and among others. Several studies have been cited in the House of Commons (2009) to prove the interconnection of socioeconomic status factors and the lifestyle factors of an individual person. First, was the research comparison conducted by the GHS (1973 & 2004) on the cigarette smoking by deprivation in Great Britain. The study had also found out that socioeconomic status of an individual had significant impact on their lifestyle such as smoking, nutrition, and obesity. These were also determined as the major causes of mortality among the poor. One reason was that smoking was more prevalent and common lifestyle to the poor compared to the rich in which they practiced healthier lifestyle. Another, was the research conducted by the British Heart Foundation (2001) regarding on fruit and vegetable consumption by socio-economic group in England. The research study revealed that people with higher occupation and income were more likely to eat more vegetables and fruits a day as compared to the people with lower occupation and income. The underlying reason was that they could more afford to buy rather than their lower counterpart. Hence, it also proved that they have healthier lifestyle because they have sufficient resources. The study of Kay-Tee Khaw, also emphasized that lifestyle had great impact on health and illness inequalities. In his study he found out that men and women who had healthier lifestyle such as not smoking, moderate alcohol intake, eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day and physically active, “had a quarter the subsequent death rate and survival equivalent to men and women 14 years younger who did not have any of these behaviors” (House of Commons, 2009, 23) Access to healthcare Inadequate access to healthcare also influences the inequalities experienced by an individual in health and illness. Access to healthcare could include, acquisition of general information regarding health and illness, prevention of illness, medication or medical checkups and other services. It is commonly observed that people who belong to the marginal lines are also the ones who are deprived to access proper and adequate healthcare. The obvious causation of this situation included the following: lack of adequate health and illness information, location, transport, ability to take time off to attend information campaign and seminars and lack of ability to navigate system, beliefs and health seeking behavior. Further, it also included the lack of public and private health care services centers, facilities and medical apparatuses and equipments. In some cases, shortages of general medical practitioners, nurses and other primary care clinicians are also significant causes of inequalities to healthcare access. These situations are commonly observed in under-served areas and poor countries (House of Commons, 2009). In connection to inadequate access to healthcare, research study of Dixon et al, (2003) as cited in the House of Commons (2009) revealed that people in the lower socioeconomic groups such as those unemployed individuals, individuals with low income and educational attainment were most likely to receive or acquire lesser healthcare services compared to their higher counterparts which also included the employed, better educated and with higher income individuals. Added to this people in the lower class were subject to health and illness inequalities especially if they live in areas where in public healthcare services are not available. Gender Factor Since in the early 1970s, gender inequalities in health and illness had become a major concern of several sociologist researchers. This was because of the increasing difference between the morbidity and mortality rate among male and female. The causes of this was attributed by the social changes that took place in the lives of men and women, i.e. change in work and employment, changes in education, changes in the family and household, changes in the social relations of gender, social complexity, and among others (Annandale & Hunt, 2000). Since, the revolution of equal rights of men and women in the work environment, women’s employment opportunities have also increased. In fact, most positions both in the government and private sectors were dominated by women. Therefore, women have increased their access to health and illness because they have already greater chances and opportunities. Likewise, this scenario left behind their male counterpart, especially those who are unemployed. Men, who are unemployed, are more vulnerable to inequalities in health and illness since they have lesser chances and opportunities as well as poor standards of living. In the same manner with education, the rationality of this is that people who have higher educational attainment are more likely to have greater chance to have better work opportunities. Hence, they have also greater chances to have sound and healthier life. The lifestyle of men and women are also varied. Since most men are the ones who are commonly smoking, drinking liquor excessively, using drugs, etc, are also more prone to inequalities (Annandale & Hunt, 2000). Factors that influence lay concept In the research study of Bury (1997), he stated that lay concepts of health were significantly influenced by modern societies in its modern times. Since, the introduction of modern communication and information technologies such as computer and internet, health and illness information were now readily available and accessible. Therefore, folk beliefs about health and illness that were influenced and created by the non-medical culture or quack doctors would be eliminated. The research-based information would be much preferred by many rather than listening to quack doctor’s explanation of illness. Another factor of lay concept was the reason of many that they only visit a doctor if they are sick. Role of National Health Services (NHS) to inequalities The NHS has necessary part to play in eliminating inequalities in health and illness. This is the government organization that is authorized to implement wide public health concerns. However, inequalities are commonly observed and very rampant even in public property health establishment. This served as barriers especially for the poor who really need immediate medical attention. Hence, this also served as a challenge to the NHS to eliminate or reduce the barriers in order to equity in health and illness services (Graham, 2004). Base on the London House of Commons (2009, 6), the NHS primary role is to “tackle health inequalities, to provide excellent services targeted at, and make it accessible especially to those who need them.” To tackle health inequalities, the NHS was tasked for the treatment, screening and health promotion. For the treatment, they were required to provide an active management of acute and chronic conditions, i.e. high blood pressure and diabetes. This aimed to prevent these conditions from worsening through curing or stabilizing them. Meanwhile, the NHS was also responsible for the proactive screening services and health promotion. For the purpose of achieving these goals, the NHS of London had initiated several health and illness intervention such as massive information dissemination to reduce Coronary Heart Disease as well as screening and detection of early signs and symptoms of cancer. In addition, the health agency had also implemented excessive public information on adopting healthy lifestyle. However, the NHS had found disadvantage of this intervention because it seems widened the health inequalities between the rich and the poor. The reason was that richer groups respond better while their counterpart had lesser respond. For example, the rich person who acquired information regarding on the negative effects of smoking had greater chance to change his/her lifestyle. The NHS is also responsible in the “promotion of primary care to more specialist services (House of Commons, 2009, 67). This included providing available treatment and medicine to patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, tuberculosis and other diseases. In order to improve the access to primary care services, the London government had initiated improvement in their facilities, apparatuses and equipments. The NHS had also improved their access to health care professionals especially in the under-served and deprived areas. The promotion could also include providing information regarding preventive measures in order to avoid acquiring lifestyle diseases. This information drive included intervention guidance such as on “smoking cessation, smoking cessation in the workplace, physical activity, sexually transmitted infections and teenage conceptions, substance misuse and school-based alcohol interventions” (House of Commons, 2009, 71). Further, the NHS had also offered and provided incentives in order to encourage the people to change their health behavior. Since, NHS is a government agency, every citizen are entitled to acquire equity and quality health and illness services. However, health and illness is not only the sole responsibility of the government and the health agencies. It is also the responsibility of the individual to look and take good care of his/her own health. Conclusion: Inequalities in health and illness are attributed by several factors. The socioeconomic position of an individual is considered as the number factor that adversely influenced inequalities. It is because, people who belong to the lower class of group in the society are the poor and these are those who have low educational attainment, low employment and low income. The vicious cycle would most likely to inherent by their next generation if they do not struggle to uplift or improve their life. The people who have lower educational attainment are also the ones who are commonly engage in unhealthy lifestyle because of their lack of understanding on their negative effects on their health. Access to healthcare was also mentioned as one factor. Hence, the government should look into on how they would provide adequate and quality health services to the common. Particularly, the National Health Services should reduce the barriers in accessing health services. This could only be achieved if they eliminate the rampant discrimination among their clients. However, the government is not only the ones responsible in attaining equity in health and illness. Most importantly, it is the sole responsibility of the individual person on how he/she would attain a sound and healthy life. References Annandale, E. and Hunt, K. (2000) Gender Inequalities in Health. Buckingham: Open University Press. Bury, M. (1997) Health and Illness in a Changing Society. London; Routledge. Graham, H (2004) Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health in the UK: Evidence on Patterns and Determinants (A Short report for the Disability Rights Commission).Institute for Health Research Lancaster University House of Commons (2009) Health Inequalities. 3rd Report of Session 2008-09. Volume 1. House of Commons: The stationary Office Limited. White, K (2008) An Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness. (2nd edition) London: Sage Read More