Question

The National Partnership for Action (NPA) to eliminate health disparities has as its mission to increase the effectiveness of programs that target the elimination of health disparities through the coordination of partners, leaders, and stakeholders committed to action. NPA defines health disparity as "a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater social and/or economic obstacles to health and/or a clean environment.

Based on your readings and discussions in the course, how would you say that the social determinants of health are related to the existence of health disparities? Give at least one example to support your response.

Answer 1

One of the creatures that has multiple layers of hierarchy in terms of race, color, class, caste etc. is human creature. Differences in the above said categories had always made sure that few people enjoyed a luxurious and healthy environment while others forced live in unhealthy conditions. People who were pushed to the corner of unhealthy environment are not able to buy medical services as they are very costly. One needs huge money to pay for a healthy living, especially in the cities. Poor people live in a cramped place where more people lie than the suggested numbers. This would cause uncleanliness, resource scarcity, diseases etc. as the environment will get polluted. They will have to drink unclean drinking water, breathe polluted air, and eat lower level foods that are considered as waste by people who are on the top of the hierarchy.

One’s health will be determined by one’s economic status in the society. Say for example, a man got affected by heart disease and he needs immediate surgery but it would cost 20,000 dollars. Now, we could guess who has more opportunity to live, the rich or the poor? Definitely the rich. If doctors say that the man should eat medicines for three months and every day the medicine would cost him 500 dollars, guess who will be able to buy the medicines.