Lesson 13 - Learning Intentions (After this lesson pupils should be able to): Explain what is meant by ‘health inequalities’ Provide evidence of health inequalities in Scotland and the UK in terms of: - geographic location - social class - gender - ethnicity Note: Health inequalities are usually measured in terms of life expectancy, mortality (death) rates or morbidity (illness) rates.

What are Health Inequalities? There is a great deal of evidence to show that some groups of people are more likely to enjoy better health and have longer life expectancy than others i.e. everyone’s health is not equal. Four ways in which health inequalities can be demonstrated (life expectancy or mortality/morbidity) are by: 1. Geographic location within Scotland, the UK and also within Dundee/Tayside. 2. Social class i.e. between wealthiest and poorest. 3. Gender between males and females. 4. Ethnicity between different ethnic groups.

Evidence of Health Inequalities – Geographic location: Life Expectancy in the UK Regions and by Gender, 2008

Evidence of Health Inequalities – Geographic location: Life Expectancy in the UK & Gender,

Evidence of Health Inequalities – Life expectancy (years) at birth UK, Scotland, Tayside and Dundee MalesFemales UK Scotland Tayside Angus Dundee City Perth & Kinross

Evidence of Health Inequalities – Geographic location: Life Expectancy, Gr. Glasgow and Clyde

Evidence of Health Inequalities – Social Class: Cancer deaths in under 75s in Scotland & most deprived areas

Evidence of Health Inequalities – U75 deaths from cancer, heart disease & stroke and by gender

Evidence of Health Inequalities – Ethnicity and Morbidity: Limiting Long-Standing Illness, 2001

Evidence of Health Inequalities Official reports that have demonstrated the existence of health inequalities in the UK include: - Black Report 1980 (first health inequalities report) - Acheson Report NHS Health Survey Caci Report Register General Annual Household Survey

Cautionary Note Although there is an abundance of evidence to support the existence of health inequalities, this does not mean that any one individual can be ‘pigeon-holed’ regarding their health. There are many other factors which affect the health and life expectancy of an individual including: - biological/family history - personal lifestyle choices - the physical and social environment - access to health service

Heading: “Evidence of Health Inequalities” 1. Explain what is meant by the term ‘health inequalities’. 2. In what four ways are health inequalities measured? 3. Using slides 3 to 9, describe what each slides shows in terms of health inequalities. Give statistics to back your answer. 4. Name three official reports that have detailed health inequalities in Scotland or the UK. 5. Apart from class, etc., what other factors influence health? 6. Read the Scotsman article: “We’re living longer – but poorest still die too early”. i) What evidence is there of health inequalities in Scotland? Make two points. ii) In international terms, what evidence is there that Scotland has a poor health record?