HLTH 101 Lecture Notes - Whitehall Study, Cardiovascular Disease, Health Equity
Document Summary
Hlth 101 - income and poverty (week 3) The single most important social determinant of health; has direct and indirect effects. Absolute poverty: the inability to meet basic human needs, such as a healthy diet, housing, clothing, heating, prescription medications, and basic social activities. Social requirements to avoid absolute poverty: the ability to visit family/friends, attend social events like weddings, funerals, other important occasions. Relative poverty: less than enough money for normal activities as defined by the social norms of the society (more so based on societal activities). Deprivation: material (lacking the goods and conveniences that are part of. Normal life) and social (an inability to participate in normal (reasonable) activities because of lock of money) 70% of those who live in poverty have employment income. Researchers have long known that people with low socioeconomic status (ses) have dramatically higher disease risks and shorter lifespans than do people inthe wealthier strata of society.
