Health Inequality and Social Gradients: An Examination of Current Stratification

This assignment delves into the concept of health inequality and social gradients, using the cliff analogy to examine current stratification. It explores the causes of health disparity, including differences in quality healthcare, access to adequate health services, and individual-level factors such as income, education, wealth, and occupation. The assignment also touches on social determinants of equity, including racism, sexism, homophobia, ethnic violence, and class inequality. References to relevant studies and reports are provided, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues to promote health equity.

Health inequality and social
gradationof health
AN EXAMINATION OF CURRENT
STRATIFICATION OF HEALTH THROUGH
CLIFF ANALOGY

Our children are our future
Challenging the traditional framework

Cliff Analogy

Suggestions on health
intervention

Health intervention model proposed by Jones, Jones, Perry, Barclay and Jones
The three-dimensional Cliff analogy
 Ambulance at the lower level (Tertiary)
 Trampoline at the intermediate level
(Secondary Level)
Fence at the upper level (Primary Level)

Causes of health disparity
Differences in quality healthcare
 Difference in access to adequate health
services.
Opportunities produce differences in the
baseline of healthcare.

Inequality in healthcare

DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Smoking
Drinking
Sedentary lifestyle
Consumption of fast food
 Risky sexual activities
 Illicit drug use

Social determinants of Health
 Neighbourhood or Community- Quality of the
housing stock, availability of different food
choices of food, level of safety for the public,
transport availability, accessibility to
recreational activities or parks.
Individual- Income, education, wealth and
occupation

Social determinants of equity
Racism
Sexism
Homophobia
Ethnic violence
Class inequality

References
Benach, J., Vives, A., Amable, M., Vanroelen, C., Tarafa, G. and Muntaner, C., 2014. Precarious employment: understanding an emerging
social determinant of health. Annual review of public health.
Berkman, L.F., Kawachi, I. and Glymour, M.M. eds., 2014. Social epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
Garg, A., Toy, S., Tripodis, Y., Silverstein, M. and Freeman, E., 2015. Addressing social determinants of health at well child care visits: a
cluster RCT. Pediatrics, 135(2), pp.e296-e304.35.
Hahn, R.A., Barnett, W.S., Knopf, J.A., Truman, B.I., Johnson, R.L., Fielding, J.E., Muntaner, C., Jones, C.P., Fullilove, M.T., Hunt, P.C.
and Community Preventive Services Task Force, 2016. Early childhood education to promote health equity: a Community Guide
systematic review. Journal of public health management and practice: JPHMP, 22(5), p.E1.
Hasson, R.E., Rowley, D.L., Blackmore Prince, C., Jones, C.P. and Jenkins, W.C., 2014. The Society for the Analysis of African-
American Public Health Issues (SAAPHI). American journal of public health, 104(11), pp.2072-2075.
Huggins, M. (2018). Our national shame: Closing the gap for Indigenous Australians is more important than ever. The Sydney Morning
Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2018, from https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/our-national-shame-closing-the-gap-for-indigenous-
australians-is-more-important-than-ever-20160316-gnkquf.html1.
Jones, C.P., Jones, C.Y., Perry, G.S., Barclay, G. and Jones, C.A., 2009. Addressing the social determinants of children's health: a cliff
analogy. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 20(4), pp.1-12.
Knopf, J.A., Finnie, R.K., Peng, Y., Hahn, R.A., Truman, B.I., Vernon-Smiley, M., Johnson, V.C., Johnson, R.L., Fielding, J.E., Muntaner,
C. and Hunt, P.C., 2016. School-based health centers to advance health equity: a Community Guide systematic review. American journal
of preventive medicine, 51(1), pp.114-126.
Marmot, M. and Allen, J.J., 2014. Social determinants of health equity.
Strazdins, L., Welsh, J., Korda, R., Broom, D. and Paolucci, F., 2016. Not all hours are equal: could time be a social determinant of
health?. Sociology of health & illness, 38(1), pp.21-42.

Thank you!