Tackling Health Inequalities

Front 1

Give 2 reasons why health inequalities should be tackled.

Back 1

- have profound effect on people's lives
- health as human rights: all systematic differences in health between social groups are unfair

Front 2

Why should health inequalities be a concern of doctors?

Back 2

- reduce costs associated with premature deaths & illness (to individuals & the state)
- good medical practice can make a difference
- poor medical practice can compound the health effects of inequality for patients
- key theme in government health policy

Front 3

What does most research conclude about health inequalities?

Back 3

- inequalities in health reflect differential exposure across the life course to the risks associated with socio-economic position
- major determinants of health inequalities are structural determinants & conditions of daily life

Front 4

What needs to be done to reduce inequalities (6)?

Back 4

- need to be acknowledged & addressed
- intervention on a broad front (different fronts & different levels)
- reduce poverty & income inequality
- improve material circumstances
- reduce inequities in access to healthcare
- population-wide approaches but particularly need to target young children & their families

Front 5

What is the difference between upstream & downstream approaches to intervention?

Back 5

- upstream deals with wider influences e.g. income, benefits, employment, education, housing etc.
- downstream deals with health behaviours e.g. lifestyles, smoking, diet, access to care

Front 6

Name 3 different approaches to tackling health inequalities.

Back 6

- reducing health disadvantage
- narrowing the health gap
- reducing the health gradient

Front 7

Explain the approach of tackling health disadvantage.

Back 7

- health inequalities are seen as health disadvantage associated with social disadvantage
- aim to improve health of the worst off
- moral grounds
- not population-wide so does not tackle health gradient

Front 8

Explain the approach of tackling the health gap.

Back 8

- reduces health gap between poorest groups & population average
- moral grounds
- can obscure what is happening to intermediate groups

Front 9

Explain the approach of tackling the health gradient.

Back 9

- population-wide seeks to obtain highest standard for all
- tackles systematic differences in life chances, living conditions & lifestyles
- absolute improvements (proportionate universalism)
- proportional gain greatest for poorest groups
- level up & not down

Front 10

Name 3 upstream approaches to tackling social determinants of health inequality.

Back 10

- reducing poverty
- improving material circumstances
- reducing educational inequalities