Health Inequality: Examining Social Stratification of Health Issues

This essay explores health inequality and its social stratification, employing the cliff analogy to illustrate health disparities. It examines the causes of health inequality, including differences in healthcare quality, access, and the impact of social determinants such as income, education, and neighborhood conditions. The essay also discusses the Jones, Jones, Perry, Barclay, and Jones health intervention model, proposing a three-dimensional cliff analogy with ambulance (tertiary), trampoline (secondary), and fence (primary) levels of intervention. Furthermore, it highlights determinants of health like smoking, diet, and risky behaviors, as well as societal factors like racism and class inequality. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues through targeted interventions to promote health equity, supported by references to relevant research.

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
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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.
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Hasson, R.E., Rowley, D.L., Blackmore Prince, C., Jones, C.P. and Jenkins, W.C., 2014. The Society for the Analysis of African-
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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
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Strazdins, L., Welsh, J., Korda, R., Broom, D. and Paolucci, F., 2016. Not all hours are equal: could time be a social determinant of
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Thank you!