Causes of Inequalities in Health: Socio-economic Status

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

Reports The Black Report (1980) The Health Divide (1987) Working Together for a Healthier Scotland (1998) The Acheson Report (1998) The following studies into health inequalities have found a causal link between social class and the incidence of ill health.

To understand the link between social class and ill health, we need to be clear what is meant by social class. A persons social class is based on a mixture of factors: OccupationIncome level Housing Education Social Class

Unskilled. Cleaner, labourer. Semi-skilled manual. Assembly line worker, builder, lorry driver. Skilled manual: Clerical and minor supervisory. Electrician, mechanic, plumber. Non-manual: Clerical and minor supervisory. Clerk, police officer, shop assistant Lower managerial, administrative, professional. Farmer, librarian, sales manager, teacher. Higher managerial, administrative, professional. Accountant, bank manager, dentist, doctor, solicitor. Categories V IV IIIb IIIa II I Class Registrar Generals Classification of Social Class

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

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

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

Key causes of inequalities in health were: Lowincome Unemployment Sub standard housing housing Poorenvironment Pooreducation The Black Report (1980) Findings

of spending more money on health education and the prevention of Illness. The Black Report (1980) Recommendations n Report contained 37 recommendations which focused on two main areas:

Report did not explain inequalities in health. Spending more on health services would make no difference to health standards. Contrary to what the Report said, poor people did use health services. The Black Report (1980) Reaction by Government n When the Report was published there was a change of government. Conservatives were now in government and they criticised the Report.

Took the individualist approach – people should eat, drink and smoke less Argued that individual behaviour within social classes shaped health Regarded the Report as old-fashioned, socialist explanations of ill-health They wanted to reduce public expenditure Governmentdisagreed Problem was: The Black Report (1980)

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

The Health Divide (1987) n The HEC was a quango – a body set up by the government but able to work independently, in theory. n 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.

The Health Divide (1987) Government reaction n Just when the Report was being commissioned, the government announced that the HEC was to be scrapped. n HEC was campaigning on alcohol, tobacco and diet issues which upset some of the governments financial supporters – tobacco manufacturers gave a lot to party funds. n 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 reports findings.

Working Together for a Healthier Scotland

The Acheson Report (1998) n This was an independent study into health inequality. n 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. n Remit – to investigate health inequalities in the UK.

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

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

Coronary heart disease Strokes Lung cancer Accidents & suicides Respiratory diseases Risk increases Social class I Social class V The Acheson Report (1998) Findings n Poor men are 68% more likely to die in middle age than richer men. n Poor women are 55% more likely to die young. n Health inequalities start before birth – A key factor in low weight babies is the mothers birth weight and her pre-pregnant weight.

Scotland Health Survey 2003