Health Inequalities and Social Detriments of Health
- Science Holic
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Author: Vincent Guo
Editors: Ethan Tai, Jonathan Chen
Artist: Alicia Chen
Typically, one might think that health is all about biology and genetics, but health inequalities and social determinants of health also play a huge role. Health inequalities are issues that result from social, economic, and environmental conditions. They are systematic and are avoidable health differences between different groups of people. One example is that areas with low income have higher rates of people getting chronic illnesses compared to high-income areas. Not only that, but health inequalities also impact a person's lifespan due to differences in economic or social positions.
A range of factors causes health inequalities. The primary factors that create health inequalities are economic situation, education, social position, access to healthcare, and the surrounding environment. Financial crisis is one of the main causes because people who are in different economic situations might have other jobs like someone who have a job that pays more would have a wider access to healthcare and be able to afford to eat healthier and more nutritious food compared to someone who have a job that pays less and has a smaller range of access to healthcare and can’t afford to eat more nutritious and healthier food. Additionally, education plays a crucial role. If someone has a higher education, they will be able to secure a better and higher-paying job, gain a deeper understanding of health, and take better care of their health as a result. Besides those, there are also social factors that allow someone to have better connections and a greater variety of people to go to for help or support.
Furthermore, a person's access to healthcare is vital because rural and less populated areas often have fewer hospitals and healthcare workers, making it less accessible for them to find treatment or help from a professional. Lastly, we have the surrounding environment, which greatly impacts one’s life. Many people debated which factor affects a person more: the environment they grew up in or the genes they got from their parents, a debate known as the nature vs. nurture debate. The result of this is that both have an equal effect on a person, which means if someone grew up poor and lived in horrible living conditions, it would most likely harm that person’s health and may shorten their lifespan or increase the rate of diseases.
The inequalities in health bring about many negative effects, like shorter life span, higher rate of getting a disease, less access and opportunities to healthcare, and also drain the economy. Fortunately, there is a way to prevent health inequalities. Still, it would require many people to speak out, help spread information, and implement numerous changes that encompass healthcare, education, and the environment. One way is to fund early education, where children can get a good education in their early childhood. Another thing that must be addressed is increasing access to healthcare for people in rural areas, where there is limited access or opportunity for healthcare. Lastly, there needs to be changes to the environment, creating a better and cleaner environment for people, as well as improved conditions in workplaces and homes. By making these changes, we can help limit the health inequalities and ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to healthcare. Healthcare is not just about biology and genes, but also about one’s economic, social, and environmental situation.
Citations:
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Health inequities are shortening lives by decades. World Health
Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/06-05-2025-health-inequities-are-shortening-lives-
Rad, J. (2025, May 23). Health inequities: A persistent global challenge from past to Future -
International Journal for Equity in health. BioMed Central.
Chelak, K., & Chakole, S. (2023, January 5). The role of Social Determinants of Health in Promoting
Health Equality: A narrative review. Cureus.
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