Understanding Inequality in Health and Illness

Describe the biomedical model of health:

1) locates the cause of disease in the individual and views health as an exclusively biological process

2) it focusses on genetics and clinical factors

Describe the social model of health:

1) locates the cause of disease in the relationship between individual and society (environment, attitudes, institutions)

2) highlights the need for social change

3) views health as a social construct

What is human agency?

the capacity to act independent, express power and have the ability to make choices and impose those choices

Define inequality:

the systematic difference in the distribution of power, resources and opportunity in a social system

Give the 7 UN indicators of poverty and deprivation:

1) dirty water

2) lack of sanitation

3) poor nutrition

4) lack of shelter

5) lack of essential medical care

6) information deprivation

7) no access to education

What is absolute poverty?

where household income is insufficient to afford basic necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing

What is relative poverty?

where household income is a certain percentage below median income for that country

Define inequality in health:

the systematic variation in health status, life expectancy, mortality and morbidity between different groups

Give 9 determinants of health found in The Rainbow Model:

1) agriculture and food production

2) education

3) work environment

4) living conditions

5) unemployment

6) water and sanitation

7) healthcare services

8) housing

9) individual lifestyle factors

What is the name of the model that shows the range of health determinants?

The Rainbow Model