Question

evaluated two different explanations for the existence of inequalities in health or social care.

Answer 1

To evaluate two different explanation for existence of inequalities in health or social care?

Health care inequality is defined as the difference in health of one group of people in an economy. these differences exist because of being socially disadvantaged , being in poverty or a member of a disadvantaged racial or ethical group. Health inequality associated with the income inequality. The various research on social inequality observed that higher the income, better is the health .thus rich possess a good rate of health than the poor group of an economy.

Impact of Income Inequality on Health:-

Various Researchers across the disciplines of sociology, psychology, epidemiology, economic have suggested various theories that could explain health inequalities and among these Theories income inequality is most common theory in social inequalities .

Health inequalities exist in all economic or social groups. Some of these inequalities are based on socio demographic characteristics such as genes, gender , age .these inequalities are unavoidable. But many of these inequalities are related to socioeconomic characteristics that could be reformed by policy intervention. Thus these inequalities are called avoidable. People with higher incomes are healthier. Various long term studies have established that this relationship is largely causal - higher income leads to better health.

With in the population the well known cause of health inequalities is the distribution of income, and poverty. It influences health directly through the goods and services that people buy which can support, or damage, their health. It also influences a wide variety of factors that have an indirect impact on health, including social status and control over casual events.

However, it does not mean that those societies with the greatest incomes have the best health outcomes. The reductions in mortality seen across high income countries in the last 150 years have coincided with a prolonged period of long-run economic growth. Thus it is important to reduce income inequality across a population to reduce health inequalities.

Social inequality or health inequity :- Health disparities are similar to health inequalities. They are simply differences in the presence of disease, health outcomes, or access to health care between population groups.

Health inequities, on the other hand, are differences in health that are not only unnecessary and avoidable but, in addition, are considered unfair and unjust. Health inequities are rooted in social injustices that make some population groups more vulnerable to poor health than other groups.

For example: research has shown that babies born to Black women are more likely to die in their first year of life than babies born to White women. These differences are attributed to poverty – a higher percentage of Black mothers are poor and face hardships associated with poverty which affect their health; however, we find differences in the health of Black and White mothers and babies even if we compare Blacks and Whites with the same income. Many scientists have shown links between the stress from racism experienced by Black women and negative health outcomes. This is a health inequity because the difference between the populations is unfair, avoidable and rooted in social injustice.

Example of unavoidable health disparity :- The birth weight of Male babies are generally heavier than female babies. This is a health disparity. This difference in birth weight is because it is rooted in genetics. Because this difference is unavoidable, it is considered a health disparity.