Social Inequalities Affecting Health - Essay Example

Social Inequalities Affecting Health Introduction Since 1980, a series of government-funded reports have provided abundant evidence of the effects of social inequality on health inequalities. These reports include the Black Report, which outlines health inequality evidence by indicating that the risk of death for people of lower occupational classes was much higher than that of higher occupational classes at every stage of life. The other report is the health divide report, which claims that life expectancy differs between boys and girls and that girls live longer than boys do. Other reports like the marmot report claims that the gap of health disparities between the rich and the poor is widening, and it offers suggestion on measures to be taken with an aim of improving health services, and policies. In this essay, we will look first at the way social inequality is measured, then at the evidence for the impact of social inequality on health and what numerous reports say about measures that should be taken to improve health inequalities. What Creates Health Problems? Health disorders are a result of numerous factors. To begin with, diet or food plays a major role in causing illnesses because food is daily basis consumption (Cockerham, 2007). The health divide report claims that poor individuals in Britain eat poor diets and junk food that eventually cause health complications and obesity. In addition, lack of exercise causes health problems because the body becomes extremely rigid and inactive. Stress is another major contributor to bad health (Smith, 2003). This is so because people tend to exhaust their brains trying to solve their daily issues, which in turn lead to depression, insanity and other health complications (Cockerham, 2007). Additionally, environmental and social factors affect people’s health. Evidence by the health divide depicts that lack of fresh air in people’s living surroundings due to industrialization that pollutes air. Air pollution is invisible, but the weight of its impacts on human health is greater because inhaling polluted air causes respiratory disorders. The report further claims that social conditions such as violence contribute to health disorders (Cockerham, 2007). More so, working conditions bring forth health complications. This is usually the case because most workers encounter harmful substances and dangerous machinery. Ideally, lifestyle choices lead people to unfavorable health conditions. Alcohol, cigarettes and drugs are the most common adapted trends that have affected billions of people’s health (Cockerham, 2007). Statistics by the health divide depicts that men in a higher social class are four times more likely to be exposed and die of lung cancer than men in the low social class, and women from the top social class are three and half more times likely to die of coronary heart diseases than women in the low social class. Measuring social class Health inequality has classified individuals in socio-economic groups such as ethnicity, gender and social class (Braveman, 2012). However, the most common trend that hinders equal health distribution is social class. Social class is a result of numerous aspects that include education, occupation and wealth. In most cases, people from higher occupation belong to higher social class, for instance managers and individuals who work for the white color jobs are incomparable to skilled and casual workers. This gap extends to the health service opportunities where the lower class individuals do not access health services appropriately when compared to the higher social class. This means that people in lower social-economic groups are more exposed to chronic health and die earlier compared to individuals of a higher social economic group, or in other words, peoples’ health varies according to every other aspect of life (Smith, 2003). Research on health and class revealed that mortality and morbidity relate with an individual’s social class (Giddens & Griffiths, 2006). Britain’s Black Report outlined this evidence because it indicated that the risk of death for people of lower occupational classes was much higher than that of higher occupational classes at every stage of life (Smith, 2003). More so, the report claims that a full range of diseases causes a high mortality rate in the poorer classes. This usually happens because working class people can afford to visit their doctors subsequently and can afford treatment of a wide range of ailments (Giddens & Griffiths, 2006). Additionally, people in long-term employment tend to leave longer than those who do not work. The three reports review The Acheson report, the black report and the health divide seem to have different evidence on health inequalities. The black report explains four types of health inequalities, which are material, selection, cultural/behavior and artifact. The report further explains that the inequalities were unrealistic but was rather a product of then way data was gathered and analyzed. Gender differences in health extend beyond the concept of advantages and disadvantages of men and women’s biology and their lives’ social organization (Bird & Rieker, 2008). Gender differences in morbidity and mortality vary in different aspects such as racial, ethnic and social economic groups. According to the health divide report, life expectancy differs between boys and girls. Life expectancy statistics carried out in 1981 showed that newborn girls could expect to live 6.4 years longer than newborn boys did. Additionally, the black report claims that England and Wales recorded 40% death of boys between 1-14 years and 20% death of girls in the same age in 1985. Despite the fact that both sexes have improved their chances of living longer, the margin gap still widens. The difference between gender mortality and morbidity is a paradox, but scholars have outlined numerous factors that might be the reason behind this difference. These experts claim that women have more biological protection than men (Chafetz, 2006). More so, they argue that even though both men and women are prone to health problems, men usually die, but women live on yet with serious disabilities, hence giving women a longer life expectancy (Chafetz, 2006). Marmot report supports this evidence by claiming that policies have to be concerned with the widening inequalities in the broad and diverse socioeconomic context of underlying childhood environments. Marmot’s current views on health and social class Everyone’s health has improved since 1948, But whilst there have been specific initiatives, which have improved health especially since the delivery of black report, the gap in morbidity and mortality between the richest and the poorest have widened. Marmot report explains this by claiming that individual’s lower social position has led to worse health and vice versa. Hence, marmot suggests that inequality differences needs tackling by addressing this gradient rather than just focusing on the health of the poorest. On the other hand, WHO claims that social injustices is killing the grand scale and it should be tackled accordingly. Marmot gives grade difference examples by highlighting England’s case study where people living in the poorest neighborhoods, averagely die seven years earlier than people living in the richest neighborhoods. The more disturbing truth is that the average difference in disability free life expectancy is only 17 years. This means that people who live in poverty prone areas die sooner and most probably spend most of their shorter lives in disability. Policy Measures That Might May Bridge Health Inequality Map According to Sir Michael Marmot and his research team, health equality implementation will require action across the social determinants of health and even beyond where the NHS could reach (Local Government Association, 2013). First, people have to rise up and take control of their own lives. This goal will be possible through proper advocacy of collaboration between local government, national government departments, the voluntary and private sector. The local government with the help of voluntary organizations will have a hard task of creating awareness to its people communities. This move will be extremely effective because the strategy will reach many people, who in turn will learn about their basic rights including that of health equity. The Marmot report supports this positive move because it claims that federal government should look beyond economic costs and benefits when implementing environmental sustainability goals (Local Government Association, 2013). More so, the review supports this communal move because it contends that creating a sustainable future is completely hand-in-hand with action to improve health equalities though upholding sustainable local communities, sustainable food production, active transport, and houses that are free from carbon, all of which impacts largely health benefits. Additionally, marmot report 2010 claims that it is necessary to regulate policies that will strictly nurture health equality from early life. This means that health cases will be handled from birth onwards because it is the only way to curb health inequalities in future generations. This will begin by the government collaboration with the pediatricians whose tasks will be to work in sensitive and innovative ways with poor families and children (Local Government Association, 2013). This outstanding implementation of pediatricians working with individual families may tremendously assist families individually in avoiding the worst influences of social exclusion and ensuring that there is no discrimination against children. The pediatricians in collaboration with mothers should give every child the best start in life. Marmot included that the local government should implement programs of behavior changes in the society. This will be a big step forward because the behavioral change programs, which include awareness campaigns, will empower people to shun their ill health adapted lifestyles (Local Government Association, 2013). Lifestyles such as smoking and drinking and the main lifestyles found in the society and intensive advocacy should be in a position to minimize or stop it in order to promote individual health that, in turn, delivers health equality. More so, the government should implement strict rules that regulate education policies, in order to bring forth and empower the society towards literacy. Though education boosts other aspects in human life, the health sector is not an exception because educated individuals will understand and interpret their health conditions faster than the illiterate individuals do. The knowledge of ill health symptoms will allow the learned individuals to seek for medical attention instantly, which ideally would save more lives (Local Government Association, 2013). More so, an educated person will tend to understand health advertisements and campaign such as immunization and outbreaks, and act fast. Therefore, the biggest challenge the government should monitor is to make sure that education is among the considered priorities because it will bridge a bigger percentage of the gap created by health inequality. Prior to promoting education, the government should also regulate policies that favor fair employment and good working conditions as well as ensures a healthy standard of living for all. Conclusion There is a great deal of evidence to show that social inequality is strongly linked to health inequalities. I would strongly support marmot’s recommendation on measures that needs implementation in order to stop health inequalities. These hindrances or inequality should be addressed and acted upon in a fast pace with all means possible. Though it might be a tough task, the government should call upon voluntary organizations in order to form a strong collaboration that will stop health inequality by offering health services to all people without marginalization of any sort. Prior to the government involvement, the Marmot report claims that all people of different class and backgrounds can access adequate medical attention that, in turn, improves health standards and increases people’s lifespan (Local Government Association, 2013). Marmot further argues that every child is entitled to education as one of the means of foundation to curb future health disparities. He also includes that proper housing and better working conditions should be prioritized at all times. References Bird, C. E, & Rieker, P. P. (2008). Gender and health: The effects of constrained choices and social policies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Braveman, P. (2010). Health and human rights: Social conditions, health equity, and human right. An International Journal, 12(2). Retrieved on April 27, 2013 from, http://www.hhrjournal.org/index.php/hhr/article/view/367/563. Chafetz, J. S. (2006). Handbook of the sociology of gender. New York: Springer. Cockerham, W. C. (2007). Social causes of health and disease. Cambridge: Polity. Giddens, A., & Griffiths, S. (2006). Sociology. Cambridge, UK [u.a.]: Polity Press. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3468327/. Local Government Association. (2013). Fair Society, Healthy Lives. Marmot review report, Annual Conference and Exhibition. Retrieved on April 27, 2013 from, http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/health/-/journal_content/56/10171/3510094/ARTICLE-TEMPLATE. Smith, G. D. (2003). Health inequalities: Llifecourse approaches. Bristol: Policy. Read More