Session 3 Flashcards
(25 cards)
What mortality ratio is most likely to show the inequalities in healthcare?
Maternity mortality rates
Why has life expectancy increased during the 20th century?
Development of sanitation
What is health associated with?
Social status (Wealth/Poverty, Area of residence/Environment) Ethnicity Gender Age Disability
Which ethnic group has a lower prevalence of cancers?
Black minority ethnic groups
What may confound the data regarding Ethnicity & health?
Many minority ethnic groups face Socio economic status inequalities
Which sex has a higher morality rate?
Males
Which sex has more suicides and violent deaths?
Males
Which sex has a higher rate of disability?
Females (But have a higher life expectancy)
Which sex has a higher rate of mental illness?
Females
Define sex in a sociology context?
Biological differences that effect health
Define gender in a sociology context?
Social factors that effect health
What are the 4 theories for why inequalities occur according to the Black report?
Artefact
Social - Selection
Behavioural - Cultural
Materialist
What is the Artefact explanation?
Health inequalities are evident due to the way statistics are collected (eg measurement of class)
BUT discredited as data problems are more likely to lead to underestimation of inequalities
What is the Social selection explanation?
Direction of causation is from health to social position.
Sick individuals move down the social hierarchy and healthy individuals move up so chronically ill are more likely to be disadvantaged
What is the behavioural cultural explanation?
Ill health is due to people’s choices/decisions, knowledge and goals.
Useful explanation for health education
What are the limitations for the behavioural cultural explanation?.
Behaviours are outcomes of social processes, not simply individual choice
‘Choices’ may be difficult to exercise in adverse conditions
‘Choices’ may be rational for those whose lives are constrained by their lack of resouces
What is the Materialistic explanation?
Inequalities in health arise from differential access to material resources eg low income
Lack of choice in exposure to hazards and adverse conditions
Accumulation of factors across life course
Most plausible
Further research is needed as to precise routes
What is Wilkinson’s income distribution theory?
It is relative (Not average) income that affects health
Countries with greater income inequalities have greater health equalities
Not richest, but most egalitarian societies that have the best health
Theory that social cohesion is important in health
What is the relevance of healthcare inequalities for practitioners?
We can be aware of the inequalities facing my patients so working towards health equities
Define inequality?
When things are different
Define inequity?
Inequalities that are unfair and avoidable (or not accounted for by clinical need)
What is the problem with measuring access to healthcare services?
Utilisation studies measure receipt of services and not how many people want to, but cannot for various reasons
What do more deprived groups of people use more?
GP services
Emergency services
What do more deprived groups of people use less?
Preventative services
Specialist services
