Sociological Explanations For The Differences In Health Chances And Health And Social Care Provision

The provision of health and social care is a prudent function to enhance the sustainability of the population. However, inequalities have still been rife in the healthcare provision (Bone at al. 2014). These inequalities have existed in different forms and have resulted in selective provision of healthcare and decline in the quality of health provision. Denied access to health care due to different sociological factors may result in grave health consequences to the victims which can even result in mortality cases (Collins & Corna 2018). This paper examines age and disability as key themes in social inequalities in healthcare. The analysis presents the statistics on the cases of social inequalities with respect to age and how the two themes affect the health and social care provided to patients.

Social inequalities, also known as social discrimination are possible manifestation in health and social care. Statistics from the NHS and other sources have pointed out the presence of these inequalities in healthcare (Swift et al. 2017). The health inequalities are tied to social class inequalities.

However, despite studies out rightly pointing out differences in healthcare through social classes, difficulties exist in classifying people in respective social classes with the criteria used in classifications coming under scrutiny (Rose & Harrison 2010). For instance, the Great British Class Survey developed social classes based on occupational status and positions with senior managers ranking top while unskilled people at the bottom (Rose & Harrison 2010). However, other statistics have relied on household/individual income to classify people (Atkinson 2010). Still, there are social classifications based on cultural position and level of esteem people are held within the community. However, this study utilizes the healthcare classification in which social class is determined by virtue of income and economic power (ONS 2015).

Access to medicinal services is available to all patients paying little heed to their age. Children, youth and adults access different health and social care in medical facilities as well as in their respective homes (Collins and Corna 2018). However, it is important to reiterate that these groups present diverse needs in terms of health and social care. Studies have established a link between poverty and low life expectancy. People living in poverty stricken areas generally experience poor health services delivery and difficulties in managing life-threatening conditions especially those requiring expenditures of large sums of money. Statistics from ONS point that life expectancy between 2015 and 2017 for women in deprived areas was 78.7 years against 86.2 years for those in affluent areas and for men, life expectancy in the deprived areas against affluent areas was at 74 years and 83.3 years respectively. The office of national statistics presents statistics on the national life expectancies between male and females as graphically presented below

These statistics portray significant findings. For instance, in the year 2012-2014, men and women aged 65 year old could live for additional 18 to 20 years (ONS 2015). This implies that age discrimination, positive or negative would likely be manifested among this group of people due to their age and life expectancy. However, the statistics may be inaccurate due to large population, with diverse needs of people making it hard to conclusively attribute these statistics to the population.

Differences in life expectancy statistics can also be attributed to cultural and material factors. Culturally, differences in the lifestyles and values among different people account for the life expectancy differences. Alcohol and cigarette smoking are key lifestyle behaviours that can have impact on life expectancy. Smoking has been identified as a risk factor for development of coronary heart disease and select cancers. Studies have identified that the impact of smoking and alcohol consumption is spread between men and women (Blagosklonny 2010). For instance, from 1974 to 2008, men were at a higher prevalence to smoking than women, though in the proportions have since narrowed with no significant differences currently reported. Additionally, the ratio of alcohol related deaths have increased since 1979 while those related to cigarette smoking declining (Blagosklonny 2010)

From the statistics above, females both in England and Wales have longer life expectancy (21.2 and 20.6 years respectively) than Male counterparts (18.8 and 18.2 years respectively) (ONS 2015). Scientists explain that biological as well as social factors contribute to this difference. For instance, women tend to adopt healthier lifestyle (smoking and drinking less, and adopting balanced diet) compared to their male counterparts thus allowing them to live for over 5 years more than males (Collins and Corna 2015).

Studies in UK have further identified that women aged 16-44 are twice much likely as men to visit doctors for consultations and this practice has been linked with higher life expectancy levels in women (Vegda et al 2009). In fact, qualitative studies have identified that men generally express a reluctance to visit doctors for consultations and check-ups (Vegda et al. 2009). It must be emphasized however that the gap in consultations in higher in les deprived areas and lower in affluent areas. Bearing in mind the importance of frequent consultations with regards to health, such as early detection and management of diseases, it is not surprising that women have a higher life expectancy than men.

Interestingly however, despite the fact that women outlive men, an examination of mental health problems such as depression which is a growing concern in the UK presented some shocking revelations worth noting. Contrary to the general perception that men suffer depression more than women, findings by APMS (2014) reveal that all types of common mental health problems were more prevalent in women than men and that the symptoms were three times more common in young women (26.0%) than young men (9.1%) (Stansfeld et al. 2016)

Studies have sought to explain the link between socioeconomic status and healthcare inequalities among aged people. Lynch et al (2004) explains that generally, people in higher social status have higher life expectancy, better health and low mortality rates. To support this, one study examined the mortality from ischemic heart disease across millions of people in 10 European countries. The findings indicated that among people aged 60 years and above, men of lower socioeconomic class were 22% more likely to die from heart disease compared to those in high socioeconomic class. Similarly, women of lower socioeconomic status were 36% more likely to succumb to heart disease compared to their counterparts of high socioeconomic status.

By and large, age discrimination with respect to access to healthcare happens in various structures. In social insurance arrangement, age cut-off introduces a type of victimization patients with patients over 75 years old being subjected to certain health checks only confided to them (Collins and Corna 2018). Furthermore, more youthful patients encountering health conditions fundamentally predominant among the old such as dementia, regularly get constrained assistance from the general specialists inside the medical clinics (Swift et al, 2017). As per the YouGov survey (2018), individuals from each age gathering (aged 65 and over) feel that individuals beyond 65 years old are less inclined to recoup from an emotional well-being condition than individuals aged 18–64. Almost 50% of more established individuals themselves trust this. These frames of mind impact the choices specialists make.

Disability, much the same as age, has likewise pulled in cases on imbalances in the medicinal services and social consideration given. Patients with incapacity just as healthcare specialists with disability frequently experience prejudicial conduct from other individuals who don't have disability (Gibson and O’Conor 2010)

As indicated by the Equality Act (2010) an individual is disabled in the event that they have a physical or mental hindrance that has a considerable and long term negative impact on their everyday life. Human services in UK are unequally granted to patients with disability. In spite of the fact that the insights and data to clarify this marvel is insufficient (Gibson and O'Conor 2010), the available data demonstrates that individuals with disability report more awful access (counting physical access into structures) to institutions and more regrettable realization given that their needs are not perceived, and that they for the most part face a few obstructions, both auxiliary and social (Bone et al. 2014; Popplewell et al 2014; Allerton and Emerson 2012).

Social inequalities are quite common and occur even in healthcare. Stereotypes, presumptions and direct conscious actions have been utilized to express discrimination and inequality towards the affected group in access to healthcare. This study has identified that indeed age and disability are key social statuses that can be exploited to deliver unequal treatment towards people based on their age, especially old age and their disability, whether physical or mental. Age or disability-related inequality significantly hampers the quality of healthcare provided and the satisfaction of the patients and their family to the services offered at medical facilities depending on the treatment accorded to them. Therefore, it is paramount that equity and respect to human rights and understanding as well as caring for individuals with special needs are some of the possible measures to ensure quality health care regardless of age, gender and social class.

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