Exploring the Connection Between Inequality and Health Outcomes

This presentation delves into the intricate relationship between social determinants of health, such as education, access to healthcare, employment opportunities, and resource availability, and their impact on population health outcomes. It examines the debate surrounding income inequality and health, referencing historical research and contemporary studies. The presentation highlights the distinction between poverty and inequality, emphasizing the role of social factors. It also discusses how inequality can affect the well-being of a large section of the population, the impact of inequality in developing countries and the importance of resource distribution and healthcare access. The presentation references various studies and guidelines to support its findings.

Inequality and Health
CONNECTION BETWEEN WEALTH, INCOME INEQUALITY, POVERTY AND HEALTH

Introduction
 This presentation discusses about the
interrelation between the social determinants
of health and health outcomes of the
population.
 Social determinants of health includes
education, access to healthcare,
opportunities for employment and availability
of resources (Batterham et al. 2016).
 These are important for people to sustain
their effective well-being.

Debate upon income inequality
and health
 Connection between economic aspects
and health outcome is a discussion of
biblical era and the first hypothesis
about the effect of wealth upon life
expectancy was conducted in 1971.
 With multiple research articles, it was
found that the poverty and inequality
are distinguishable, however social
factors plays a critical role in the
process (Liaropoulos and Goranitis
2015).
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
Local Neighbourhoods
(in England & Wales)
Life expectancy (years)
Richest Poorest
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
Local Neighbourhoods
(in England & Wales)
Life expectancy (years)

Link between poverty and
inequality
 Poverty is not inequality but it is one
of the critical face of the complete
inequality.
 This is because, due to the lack of
educational and employment
sources, inequality arises.
 However, separation of community,
not including a specific community in
the community functions also
increases the complication of
inequality (Pickett and Wilkinson
2015).

Inequality and population health
 In the 2015 documentation of UN
task force, the United Nations has
mentioned that increased levels of
inequality could affect the wellbeing
of a larger section of the population
(Langer et al. 2015).
 Each country should discuss these
aspects in their healthcare planning
and implementation process so that
equity could restored in the process.

Inequality and poverty with SDH
 In the Millennium Development Goals
of United Nations, it was mentioned
that majority of the African countries
are suffering from healthcare
inequalities due to which, child
mortality rate has increased and life
expectancy has decreased (Dinh,
Strazdins and Welsh 2017).
 Lack of educational, healthcare and
employment facilities has increased
the complication of population in this
country (Langer et al. 2015).

Inequality and country’s
resources
 Improper distribution of resources and
lack of proper healthcare facilities
increases the risk of affected health
outcomes for the people in the country
(Barlam et al. 2016).
 Due to progression n the healthcare
process, the cost of the interventions
are increasing and hence, due to the
lack of resources, income inequality
arises that is one of the primary
reason for health inequality (McDonald
et al. 2018).

References
 Barlam, T.F., Cosgrove, S.E., Abbo, L.M., MacDougall, C., Schuetz, A.N., Septimus, E.J., Srinivasan, A., Dellit, T.H., Falck-Ytter,
Y.T., Fishman, N.O. and Hamilton, C.W., 2016. Implementing an antibiotic stewardship program: guidelines by the Infectious
Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(10),
pp.e51-e77.
 Batterham, R.W., Hawkins, M., Collins, P.A., Buchbinder, R. and Osborne, R.H., 2016. Health literacy: applying current concepts
to improve health services and reduce health inequalities. Public health, 132, pp.3-12.
 Dinh, H., Strazdins, L. and Welsh, J., 2017. Hour-glass ceilings: Work-hour thresholds, gendered health inequities. Social
Science & Medicine, 176, pp.42-51.
 Langer, A., Meleis, A., Knaul, F.M., Atun, R., Aran, M., Arreola-Ornelas, H., Bhutta, Z.A., Binagwaho, A., Bonita, R., Caglia, J.M.
and Claeson, M., 2015. Women and health: the key for sustainable development. The Lancet, 386(9999), pp.1165-1210.
 Liaropoulos, L. and Goranitis, I., 2015. Health care financing and the sustainability of health systems. International Journal for
Equity in Health, 14(1), p.80.
 McDonald, L.C., Gerding, D.N., Johnson, S., Bakken, J.S., Carroll, K.C., Coffin, S.E., Dubberke, E.R., Garey, K.W., Gould, C.V.,
Kelly, C. and Loo, V., 2018. Clinical practice guidelines for Clostridium difficile infection in adults and children: 2017 update by
the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). Clinical
Infectious Diseases, 66(7), pp.e1-e48.
 Pickett, K.E. and Wilkinson, R.G., 2015. Income inequality and health: a causal review. Social science & medicine, 128, pp.316-
326.