Patterns and trends of social distribution of health and illness

Social Class and Health

  • Social class remains a significant determinant of health outcomes in various societies, including the UK.
  • Lower socio-economic classes generally report worse health status and higher incidence of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and mental health disorders.
  • Higher mortality rates are observed among the lower and working classes. This is referred to as the ‘social gradient in health.’
  • Influencing factors include poor diet, fewer opportunities for physical activity, higher exposure to harmful substances (alcohol, tobacco, drugs), inadequate housing and stressful working environments.

Ethnicity and Health

  • Disparities exist not only based on social class, but also ethnicity.
  • People of African Caribbean descent in the UK are found to have higher rates of hypertension compared to other ethnicities.
  • South Asian communities show a higher prevalence of diabetes.
  • Migrant populations often face barriers to healthcare, thereby exacerbating health disparities.
  • Access to and quality of healthcare, language barriers, cultural considerations and discrimination are some factors contributing to ethnic health inequalities.

Gender and Health

  • Gender differences also affect health outcomes. On average, women live longer than men but report more health problems.
  • Men are more likely to die prematurely from coronary heart disease and are at a higher risk for lung cancer.
  • Women have a higher incidence of chronic but non-fatal conditions, like arthritis and depression.
  • Patterns of illnesses between genders might be influenced by biological differences, lifestyles, and societal expectations, such as risk-taking behaviour and reluctance to seek health care in men.

Age and Health

  • Ageing is associated with increased health problems and, often, multi-morbidity.
  • Older people are more susceptible to illnesses such as dementia, arthritis, and various forms of cancer.
  • In younger age groups, mental health issues (particularly depression and anxiety), obesity, and substance abuse disorders are increasingly prevalent.
  • Health and longevity are affected by a lifetime’s exposure to social, economic and environmental factors.

Geography and Health

  • Regional inequalities in health exist within the UK, with a clear North-South divide.
  • People living in the North of England, Wales and Scotland have poorer health and lower life expectancy when compared with their counterparts in the South.
  • Urban areas generally report higher health problems compared to rural ones, due to pollution, housing conditions and limited access to healthy food and open spaces for physical activity. However, rural areas can face issues of healthcare access.
  • Deprived areas (where poverty, unemployment and poor education are prevalent) regardless of geography, tend to show the worst health outcomes.

Overall, the different facets of social distribution of health and illness should not be considered in isolation. They often intersect and interact in complex ways. And it’s essential to recognise interventions to improve health outcomes must address these multifaceted aspects. Keep in mind the ‘materialist’, ‘cultural/behavioural’ and ‘psychosocial’ explanations for health disparities when revising this topic.