Sociological Context and Theoretical Approaches to Health and Illness in UK

This presentation discusses the theoretical approaches to health and illness in UK, including functionalism, symbolic interactions, and conflict approach. It also covers statistical data on smoking, infant deaths, and obesity in UK, and the impact of social, economical, biological, and cultural determinants on health and well-being of individuals.

Sociological Context

3.1
 According to WHO definition Health can be defined as “ a state of complete
physical, metal and social well-being”.
 Medicine can be elaborated as a social setting that play important role in diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of treatment of ailment as well as promotion of health and
well-being among individuals

Theoretical Approaches
Functionalism
 This approach emphasizes that good health ad better medical care play very cardinal
role in smooth functioning of society.
 The approach assumes that patients are expected to perform sick role to be perceived
as legitimately ill.
 A patient and physician role is hierarchical which means sick people are obligated to
follow physicians instructions in order to overcome their illness
Symbolic Interactions
 This approach shows that health and illness are social constructions.
 It is assumed that physical and mental health conditions have no real objective but
are considered as healthy or ill state if defined by society.
 Physicians manage situations by portraying authority and knowledge.
.

Contd
Conflict Approach
 This approach entails that social inequality characterizes the quality of health and
healthcare services in a society.
 It states that individuals from deprived social backgrounds are more likely to
experience physical and mental health issues. In addition to this these people do not
have access to effective healthcare.
 Physicians have tried to portray social issues as medical problems in order to
increase their income.

3.2
According to information published by Health and
Social Care Information Centre in 2010, 20 percent of
adults are indulged in smoking in England. The
number of deaths from smoking was recorded to be
79100 among adults of age group 35 years and above
(Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Tables, Summer 2015 update, 2016).
The statistical data published by Office for National
Statistics reveals that the number of live births in UK
was 776352 in the year 2014. In addition to this, infant
deaths registered in UK was 3014 in the year 2014.

Contd...
Obesity is another major health related issue in UK.
According to statistical figures of the year 2012
indicate that 55 percent of women aged 16 and above
and 67 percent of men are said to be physically active
as compared to 19 percent of men and 26 percent
women who were classed as physically inactive (Vital Statistics:
Population and Health Reference Tables, Summer 2015 update, 2016).

3.3
 From the above data it can inferred that there are several health and social issues
that badly hit health and well-being of individuals of UK.
 These include obesity, alcohol misuse, smoking, mental health problems, etc. Health
and social care professionals play very important role in promoting health and well-
being of individuals.
 However it has been observed that provision of affordable and good quality
healthcare services is seen as a cumbersome challenge due to the existence of social
inequalities.
 Access to health and care services is very crucial to achieve better health outcomes
in a timely manner

3.4
 Health ad well-being of individuals are determined by several factors. The social,
economical, biological and cultural determinant greatly impact physical as well as
psychological health of an individual.
 Socio-economic status, genetics, age, gender, ethnicity, working environment
strongly affect health and social well-being of communities. It has been observed
that people who belong to low incomes lack access to adequate housing, nutritious
food and safe working conditions.
 In addition to this, lack of finances and stressful living conditions add up to the risk
of mental anxiety which can negatively affect the psychological health of
individuals.
 Many heath issues such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases,
high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. emerge from unhealthy lifestyle and
stressful working conditions.

References
Health Inequalities, 2016. [Online] Available through:
<http://www.lho.org.uk/LHO_Topics/National_Lead_Areas/HealthInequalitiesOverview
.aspx>. [Accessed on 6th February 2016].
Alcohol-related Deaths in the United Kingdom, 2013, 2015[Online] Available through:
<http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/alcohol-related-deaths-in-the-
united-kingdom/2013/index.html>. [Accessed on 6th February 2016].
United Kingdom, 2016. [Online] Available through: <http://www.everyculture.com/To-
Z/United-Kingdom.html>. [Accessed on 6th February 2016].
Vital Statistics: Population and Health Reference Tables, Summer 2015 update, 2016.
[Online] Available through: <http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/vital-statistics--
population-and-health-reference-tables/summer-2015-update/index.html>. [Accessed on
6th February 2016].

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