Health Inequality and Social Determinants

This set of flashcards summarizes key terms and concepts related to health inequality and social determinants from the lecture.

Social stratification

Means that there are groups within a society that have unequal access to strategic resources.

Social determinants of health

Factors that influence individual and group health outcomes, including social class, gender, ethnicity, and education.

Maternal determinants of health

Key environmental factors affecting maternal health, namely air, water, and food.

Zipcode

An epidemiological indicator of where individuals stand on the socioeconomic ladder of inequality.

Absolute poverty

Not having enough money to buy sufficient healthy food.

Extreme poverty

Living on less than $1.25 a day.

GDP per capita

A measure that compares average life expectancy in countries with different levels of income.

Life expectancy

As income increases, this also tends to increase.

Relative poverty

When basic needs for survival are met but life expectancy is still adversely affected.

Death of despair

Increases in mortality due to suicide, drug, and alcohol-related deaths.

Globalization

The historical process by which the world has gotten smaller.

Developed and underdeveloped countries

New terms used to replace 'first' and 'third' world countries.

Sex

Refers to biological differences between men and women.

Gender

A social construct based on cultural ideas about men and women's health.

Drapetomania

A so-called mental illness in slaves that caused the desire to run away from plantations.

Racism

Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race.

Ethnicity

A useful and important social construct based on cultural distinctions.

Macroparasites

Disease-causing agents that reflect the impact of social inequalities on health.

Maternal mortality rate

The ratio of pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births.

Female genital mutilation

Surgeries done for aesthetic and cultural reasons, considered very controversial.

HIV risk factors

Groups with higher risk include men who have sex with men and sex workers.

Introductory interventions to reduce HIV

Methods such as reducing multiple and concurrent partnerships.

Structural violence

Invisible violence that exists as a social norm.

Intimate partner violence

Physical violence against one spouse or partner.

War's impact on health

It kills civilians and soldiers while contradicting public health efforts.