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The Evidence Documenting Social Inequalities in Health
The evidence of social inequalities in health has been documented in various platforms and sources. Firstly, evidence about social inequalities exists in various publications (Chokshi, 2018). They consist of books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, magazines, and other forms of literature. Secondly, research after research on social inequalities in health has revealed its existence. There are various studies conducted on social inequalities that have confirmed their existence. Thirdly, conferences and documentaries have been one of the sources of information about inequalities in health.
Kriznik et al. (2018) are one of the sources that major in finding out the determinants of social inequalities in health. According to the authors, racial inequalities have significantly contributed to health disparities. The literature obtained evidence from several public health works of literature that demonstrated racial health disparities. The literature showed that racial hierarchies were made by racist cultural processes. These hierarchies had a big effect on how health care was done. As a result, racial inequality has been shown to have an impact on social inequalities in health.
One of the pieces of evidence documenting social inequalities in health is research. For example, Edward (2019) conducted research to determine the impact of religion on social inequalities. He used the reasoning of scientists such as Karl Marx, Max Weber, and W. E. B. DuBois to deconstruct the impact. The findings reveal that religion is crucial to the flow of power in the social world. This is an indication that it has a great influence on the decisions people make in life. It can allow or forbid people from taking some medications.
Phelan et a. (2010) have established that social conditions are the most important determinant of social inequalities in health. This includes resources such as money, knowledge, prestige, power, mutually beneficial social connections, as well as other relevant factors. It demonstrates that health policies are one of the most significant factors influencing social inequalities in health. The study advocates the need to develop appropriate health policies to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare services.
Social Gradient in Morbidity and Mortality, Including Examples
Social gradient in morbidity is defined as the variations in the occurrence of illnesses in different social groups. Morbidity is the condition of suffering from a disease or medical condition, while social gradient is the difference in social status. Based on this, the social gradient in morbidity shows that social groups like economically disadvantaged populations can be linked with some illnesses (Marmot,1997). The variations originate from existing social inequalities in the communities, such as inadequate resources, ineffective policies, and many more.
Health inequalities are a major issue in the US because they result in high morbidity among different social groups. The health of individuals from minority groups, such as people of color, has been the focus of advancements in the US healthcare system (CDC, 2021). For example, there are reports of the prevalence of TB among the African American community in the US. This is an indication that minority groups are susceptible to contracting diseases such as TB. This also shows that people of color and other non-Hispanic groups do not receive adequate health interventions to deal with TB.
Social gradient in mortality is one of the primary concerns that are supposed to be addressed in healthcare. It is defined as the variation in mortality among different social groups (Marmot & Bell, 2009). There are various social aspects that influence the health of people. One of the social factors that affect health is access to basic needs. The other aspect that also influences the health of a social group is social interactions.
The African American population in the US has a higher cancer death rate than white people, according to cancer statistics from the United States for the year 2019. This can be attributed to racial discrimination because the number of reported cases has decreased in tandem with the reduction of racial segregation in the US. For example, in 2019, about 202,260 new cases of cancer and 73,030 cancer deaths were expected among blacks in the US (DeSantis et al., 2019). This is an indication that the social gradient results in higher mortality as a result of health inequalities in the population.
The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Status and Inequalities in Health
Socioeconomic status is among the factors that result in health inequalities among social groups. People who are socioeconomically advantaged can easily access healthcare services (Poulain et al., 2020). On the other hand, individuals who are socioeconomically disadvantaged may have challenges accessing healthcare services. For example, the cost of healthcare is one of the barriers that limit access to healthcare. As a result, people who are poor lack the resources that can assist them in accessing health services, which is a costly venture in the US.
Socioeconomic status, such as an individuals level of education, has an impact on their health. Individuals who have a high level of education are more likely to experience better health (Poulain et al., 2020). High education results in higher income, which has a positive impact on an individuals health. In addition, people who are highly educated are more likely to make an informed decisions which can be integral in the attainment of good health. On the other hand, less education is associated with a lower income, which is linked with poor health. Therefore, socioeconomic status, like the level of education, can lead to health disparities.
There are various social groups that are established on the basis of economic status. The level of health care that one receives is determined by ones social class. When compared to people from higher socioeconomic classes, people from lower socioeconomic classes receive a lower level of health care. This contributes to health inequalities among the population (Poulain et al., 2020). For example, poor people have limited access to healthcare services due to financial barriers.
Socioeconomic status can have an adverse impact on inequalities in health. For example, it increases inequalities in health due to issues such as inadequate funding. Economically disadvantaged individuals do not have the ability to access healthcare due to a lack of funds. When will seek alternative methods of treatment when they get sick (Poulain et al., 2020). In addition, less educated individuals tend to have difficulty in making appropriate decisions, especially in the area of healthcare.
Methods of Utilizing the Social Determinants of Health to Improve Population Health
There are several methods of using social determinants of health to enhance population health. One of the strategies that can be used is to keep the neighborhood clean and orderly (Israel et al., 2019). This is about getting rid of any form of health hazard that can adversely affect the health of people. For instance, ensure that the people living in the neighborhood have access to clean water. The main aim is to ensure that individuals are protected from health hazards. Living in a clean environment will ensure that people are safe from diseases like typhoid.
The second strategy that can be used to improve the health of a population is performing extensive research on health issues that affects healthcare. Effective research on a health problem can develop new initiatives in the area of cause, prevention, and appropriate treatment mechanism of some health issues (Israel et al., 2019). This will assist in the development of preventive and treatment solutions aimed at improving the health of people living in the neighborhood. Moreover, this will help in lowering the risk of disease infection.
Healthcare systems should be improved in order to ensure that they provide all individuals with affordable and high-quality healthcare services. All individuals should be able to access healthcare services as a result of the passage of legislation and regulatory changes (Israel et al., 2019). When these laws and regulations are followed, the population will have access to affordable and high-quality healthcare services, which will help to improve the overall health of the population. As a result, this strategy will make sure that everyone can assess healthcare.
Collaborations with community groups, public health officials, and local leaders Improving individual and population health necessitates collaboration and cross-sectoral action to engage other sectors in the creation of healthier environments (Israel et al., 2019). This is frequently facilitated by public health partners who are already actively involved in tackling social determinants through increasing community-based initiatives for improving health equity, as well as community groups who are aware of what is going on locally. It is critical to establish such collaborations by developing a common language and common understanding.
Participation in the community, empowerment, and the transformation of social norms is an important techniques that can be used to enhance the health of a population. To address deeply rooted challenges that have become ingrained in social norms, the local community must be engaged and empowered (Israel et al., 2019). By initiating a dialogue and assisting in the identification of local solutions, physicians and allied health workers can serve as important change agents, sparking community-level shifts in ways of thinking and acting. Community engagement is a continuous process that aims to increase opportunities for community voice and action in order to influence social and structural conditions that are known to have far-reaching health consequences for communities.
Implications For Healthcare Policy and Specific Action Plans to Reduce Health Inequalities
Healthcare policy plays an integral role in the effective performance of the healthcare system. It creates guidelines that benefit the healthcare system. A healthcare policy offer direction that hospitals and providers are supposed to follow to achieve the anticipated efficiency of operations (Phelan et al., 2010). The action plan to reduce health inequality is to make sure that healthcare is affordable to all in the country. The government and relevant agencies are supposed to eliminate any financial barrier to healthcare.
Healthcare policy is crucial because it determines how care is offered to the patient. It assists in creating responsibilities and expectations for healthcare providers. There are several action plans for reducing health inequalities (Phelan et al., 2010). Firstly, it is important to make sure that healthcare professionals are committed to offering quality care to patients. Secondly, hospital facilities are supposed to make sure that there are strategies in place to handle a case of discrimination. For example, no one should be discriminated against due to gender, race, and other aspects.
Healthcare policy is integral in enhancing the efficiency of operations in a hospital. It can ensure that healthcare facility has adequate resources to support their activities and offer quality care (Phelan et al., 2010). To reduce health inequalities, policies should be used to increase hospital funding. Healthcare policy should be set to guide infrastructure development in hospitals. For example, it will ensure that hospitals have enough beds to meet the needs of the community.
Healthcare policy is among the initiatives that can help in increasing access to healthcare services. It can ensure that people in a country have access to healthcare insurance to assist with payment. There are several actions that can be taken to reduce health inequalities. Firstly, legislators have a duty to develop health laws that increase the number of individuals eligible for healthcare insurance. Secondly, the government should make sure that there is adequate funding to support people who are disadvantaged.
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