Title: Inequalities in Health
1Inequalities in Health
2In this unit you will learn about the causes of
inequalities in health
Gender Ethnic Origin Lifestyles Hereditary
factors Social Economic status Geographical
location Working Conditions
3Gender
- Men higher rates of lung cancer, bronchial and
heart disease. - Men less likely to visit GPs
- Men lower life expectancies - 5 years
less - Women more likely to report illness.
- Women - cancer of reproductive system.
- Women better screening programmes.
- Women more likely to suffer depression.
- Men more likely to be admitted to Psychiatric
hospitals or to commit suicide.
4Poverty Ethnic Minorities
- There are strong links between discrimination,
social exclusion and poverty. - Low Pay
- Many people from Ethnic Minorities are in low
paid jobs. - 25 of Pakistani and Bangladeshi employee were
low paid - 15 of Indian employee were low paid
- 11 of Black employee were low paid
- 10 of White employee were low paid
5Unemployment and Ethnic Minorities
A recent government report said you are less
likely to be in a job and more likely to be
unemployed if you come from an ethnic minority
background. 1999 Unemployment rates 5.5
White 13 all ethnic minority
groups 16.5 Black 7.1 Indian 17.6
Bangladeshi/Pakistani
6Health Ethnic Minorities
Ethnic Minorities are more at risk from coronary
heart disease, hypertension, non-insulin diabetes
and haemoglobin disorders. Whilst these diseases
might be associated with particular ethnic
communities it is also fair to say they might
be associated with poor housing low
income. (Scottish Office)
7Lifestyles
- High fat high sugar diet
- More additives to foods
- Less fresh foods
- Less exercise
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Drugs
8Hereditary factors
Some types of Heart Disease Some Cancers Downs
Syndrome Haemophilia Alzheimers Muscular
Dystrophy
9Geographical Location
Leukaemia clusters near power stations Cancer
clusters near high- tension electricity
cables More active lifestyles in
countryside Road pollution Factory pollution Can
be linked to Social Economic Status - where
you can afford to live!