Social Disparities And Inequalities In Health Care

There is a strong correlation between the social class of an individual and the health outcomes. Health and class disparities are the result of the social gradient of health within society. Health inequalities are not the result of an individuals behaviour towards their health but due to the structural issues within society which create health disparities. Their needs to be a greater emphasis on recognising and understanding class as a social determinant of health, through the examination of the sociology theory Marxism. By examining social class from a Marxist perspective allows for an understating of why and how health inequalities exist in order to implement effective health intervention.

Something that can be agreed on is the emphasis on education as a means to improve health outcomes. Education is an important factor in the social determinants of health that can improve and empower individuals. Those who are educated showed lower morbidity rates and were more likely to have better health (Picker

In 2003, the Institute of Medicine published a report outlining potential steps to work towards eliminating healthcare disparities, by suggesting a strategic approach by addressing the challenges within the health care systems, the federal and state legislative context in which they operate, clinicians and their patients (Betancourt JR, King RK, 2003). The intended goals of reducing and eliminating healthcare disparities, has continually been an agenda item for policy makers over the past few decades, but there has been no significant change. The root of the segregated mindset which implies minorities should be treated as lesser class humans is a part of American history and because of this, it is America’s responsibility to eliminate it(William D,

Per Rohan, “Little is known about how the public views health disparities...and how these lay perspective compare to the professional...and politicians recognize that the way in which a policy or the groups it is designed to target are framed can have a direct impact on support for that policy” (2008, p. 36). Accurate perceptions are rare because of experiential and epistemological deficits, meaning those without access due to economic, social,cultural, ethnic, environmental and geographic barriers are unaware that others receive different standards of care, and the converse is

In United States, researchers have developed many programs to overcome healthcare barriers. However, some leader priorized the cost over the health of their residents. According to researchers, expanding Medicaid is one of the solutions to reduce healthcare inequality. The difference is remarkable in the states that accepted to expand Medicaid. Others researches found that to reduce social inequality in health, leaders must begin by doing action to improve health for the most disadvantaged groups. Researchers think that world leader have to focus on factor that influence public health such: living conditions, environments, products and lifestyles. 1 participation and influence in society 2 economic and social security 3 secure and favorable conditions during childhood and adolescence 4 healthier working life 5 healthy and safe environments and products 6 health and medical care that more actively promotes good health 7 effective protection against communicable diseases safe sexuality and good reproductive health 9 increased physical activity 10 good eating habits and safe food 11 reduced use of tobacco and

Although it has been identified that addressing health inequalities in Staffordshire requires both organisational change in the ways public sector designs and commissions services and behavioural change in the number of people making healthy lifestyle choices , however gaps in health and care provided across Staffordshire reflect they are reactive, driven by disjointed incentives and priorities , with very little attention paid to initiatives to address social determinants of health.

Different levels of wellness, the underutilization of available care, and outcomes of illnesses and injuries are all concepts that define health disparities, (Buchbinder & Shanks, 2012). The social injustice of class inequalities directly affects health and education all over the world. There are two models of human behavior that, when properly addressed, could positively decrease the imbalance in society.

There are considerable differences both in health and in the resources needed to ensure equal opportunity to all with regards to health care (Powers & Faden, p. 36) and vulnerable populations often have decreased access to quality health care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides us with the opportunity to advance health equity and social justice by affording equal access to health care for every American through market reforms, new health care insurance exchanges and Medicaid expansion for low-income adults. However, this opportunity has not been fully realized since the inception of the ACA by leaving Medicaid expansion up to individual states. Other weaknesses result from the fact that provisions of the ACA has not often achieved the intended effects

Keleher & MacDougall (2016, p.20) define the social determinants of health as “the fundamental structures of social hierarchy and the social, economic and politically determined conditions that result in good health, ill health or disease, and in which people grow, live, work and age”.

The film entitled Unnatural Causes: In Sickness and in Wealth, provided significant information on the status of health within the United States. This film mainly focuses on the health disparities in America, which is defined as “Systematic, plausibly avoidable health differences adversely affecting socially disadvantaged groups (by race/ethnicity, gender, income, (dis)ability, sexuality, age and other categories associated with marginalization)” (Jette, 2016) Though I previously held a good understanding regarding the causes of the various health disparities within America, this film proved to further supports my previous ideas concerning the root causes of the health disparity epidemic. From my prior knowledge and interest in the field of

Within the article, “Health Disparities and Health Equity: The Issue Is Justice” I found various important points presented. First, I thought the authors placed an emphasize on operationally defining definitions. The National Institutes of Health defines health disparities as “differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the US”, these differences occur by “gender, race or ethnicity, education or income, disability, living in rural localities, or sexual orientation” (Healthy People, 2010). I found these definitions

The United States health care system has attempted to bring its health care structure into a position fitting of the richest nation in the world. Yet, evidence suggests that socioeconomic disparities still exist, and access to care is still an issue even for citizens who have enrolled in health care plans (Delgado, 2015). Access to health care should be considered a basic right, a natural right for everyone. In 2008 T.R. Reid traveled to 5 countries that were among the richest in the world and provided universal health care access in some fashion. Here we will use Ried’s (2008) findings to discuss distributive justice, vulnerabilities and the human right to health care.

Despite all of the exertions and objectives in the United States to lessen or get rid of disparities going on in healthcare by 2012, important disparities, such as risk factors, admission to healthcare, illness, and death, lingers in populations that are considered to be vulnerable. For instance, many investigations have discovered that Americans that are living in poverty are much more probable to be in poor or fair health and have incapacitating environments, and are less likely to have utilized different kinds of healthcare (Smedley BD, 2011).

Conference started with Inequalities in Health session. In health, inequality can occur for social reasons, can be reduced and prevented. The main reasons are poverty, lack of education and inadequate health policies. The most obvious indicator is the rate of infant death.

Health Equity is having everyone had the opportunity to thrive and succeed. Social Determinants of health is being able to have access to early learning, education, employment, transportation etc. The council advises the governor to what the state might do. Some strategies to promote equity are infrastructure, data, partnership, policy and communication. For example WIC is a program where it get vouchers for mothers and children. Making sure it is a useful to for mothers, and how WIC can help families, and what are things they can approve on. They also would like to do research on how kindergarten through third graders do not like doing homework and how it makes childrens less interested in school in the future. Since there is not a lot of