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Causes of Inequalities in Health: Socio-economic Status

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Causes of Inequalities in Health: Socio-economic Status

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    1. Causes of Inequalities in Health: Socio-economic Status

    2. Inequalities in Health A number of studies have been carried out by various groups over the years. Their reports revealed: the nature of health inequalities the scale of the health inequalities the causes of these inequalities in the UK.

    3. The following studies into health inequalities have found a causal link between social class and the incidence of ill health.

    4. Social Class

    5. Registrar General’s Classification of Social Class

    6. The Black Report (1980) Remit To investigate the problem of inequalities in health in the UK. To analyse the lifestyles and health records of people from all social classes (based on the Registrar General’s categories).

    7. The Black Report (1980) Findings The health of the nation had improved generally but the improvement had not been equal across all the social classes. Gap in inequalities of health between lower and higher social classes was widening.

    8. The Black Report (1980) Findings Health standards were directly linked to social class. Ill health increased down the social scale. The problem had little to do with the NHS. Problems were linked with social and economic factors such as: income unemployment poor environment poor housing education

    9. The Black Report (1980) Findings

    10. The Black Report (1980) Recommendations Report contained 37 recommendations which focused on two main areas:

    11. The Black Report (1980) Reaction by Government When the Report was published there was a change of government. Conservatives were now in government and they criticised the Report.

    12. The Black Report (1980)

    13. The Health Divide (1987) Remit This Report, also called the Whitehead Report, concentrated on social class as one of the main causes of inequalities in health. The Report was commissioned by the Health Education Council (HEC) in 1987 and headed by Margaret Whitehead. Her remit was to update the evidence on inequalities in health and to assess the progress made since the Black Report six years earlier.

    14. The Health Divide (1987) The HEC was a quango – a body set up by the government but able to work independently, in theory. Findings Revealed that the gap between health standards and social class had widened since the publication of the Black Report. Restated the direct link between health and social class.

    15. The Health Divide (1987) Government reaction Just when the Report was being commissioned, the government announced that the HEC was to be scrapped. HEC was campaigning on alcohol, tobacco and diet issues which upset some of the government’s financial supporters – tobacco manufacturers gave a lot to party funds. One week before findings were due to be made public, a press conference was cancelled with no explanation. Clearly pressure had been put on the Chairman of the HEC to cancel because of the controversial nature of the report’s findings.

    16. “Working Together for a Healthier Scotland”

    17. The Acheson Report (1998) This was an independent study into health inequality. It was commissioned by the new Labour government in 1997, under the chairmanship of a former Chief Medical Officer for England and Wales, Sir Donald Acheson. Remit – to investigate health inequalities in the UK.

    18. The Acheson Report (1998) It was a very comprehensive survey of those in society described as disadvantaged. Its findings mirrored those of the Black Report. The root cause of inequalities in health was poverty. It concluded that in order improve the health of millions, the gap between the richest and poorest in UK society had to be reduced.

    19. The Acheson Report (1998) Findings Children from poor families weighed on average 1.30gms less than those from wealthy families Infant mortality rates: 7/1000 – lower social classes 5/1000 – upper social classes Long term illness 17% of profession men aged 45-64 48% of lower class men aged 45-64 Income levels 2.2 million children live on income levels 50% below the national average Health campaigns Higher uptake of screening amongst upper social classes – widened health gap

    20. The Acheson Report (1998) Findings Poor men are 68% more likely to die in middle age than richer men. Poor women are 55% more likely to die young. Health inequalities start before birth A key factor in low weight babies is the mother’s birth weight and her pre-pregnant weight.

    21. Scotland Health Survey 2003

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