Link Between Health and Wealth in South Africa Essay

Submitted By kaitlinsiddiq12
Words: 1035
Pages: 5
Open Document
To what extent is there a link between income and health?

For some time now, there has been a clear link showing that income and wealth does in fact impact upon a person health. Although the NHS is universal, and therefore everyone will receive its health benefits regardless of their income, this link between health and wealth still exists. Poor housing and a poor diet can be a large contributor to poor health in the lower social classes, as well as the use of alcohol and drugs as a use of escapism. Although we mainly regard the use of alcohol and drunks among the lower social classes it does exist within the middle class, and to a high level.

People in lower social classes are more likely to live in a house with problems such as dampness, poor ventilation, overcrowding, and a lack of heating. These problems can impact a person’s health greatly and especially children. O Shelter estimate that children living in bad housing are twice as likely to suffer from poor health, and children in overcrowded or unfit accommodation are a third more likely to suffer respiratory problems such as asthma – this can also be down to poor ventilation. These statistics from O Shelter show clearly the link between poor health and poor income, thus reinforcing that a person with a low income is more likely to suffer from poor health.

Someone with a poor diet is much more likely to suffer from poor health than someone with a healthy diet, and as is the case with the lower social classes. The lower social classes have the highest consumption of junk food as this is a way of getting maximum calories for minimum prices. Accessing healthy food can be a lot more expensive than junk food, which makes the option of junk food easier for families with a low income. Some poorer families may not have access to a car and so trips to the supermarket can be difficult, which makes a corner shop much more convenient, although they may have to pay between 6% and 13% more for a nutritionally adequate diet from a corner shop, than if they would if they went to a supermarket. This large consumption of junk food means the likelihood of dying from heart disease or cancer is higher as you go down the social classes.

Smoking and drinking is at its highest within the lower social classes. Escapism often explains why people do this to an excess. Stress levels can be extremely high in low income households with the pressure of making end meets. Statistics show that 42% of unskilled workers smoke compared with 15% of professional males, and the highest proportions of people who drink to an excess are in poorer areas such as Manchester and Liverpool. Alcohol allows people to escape their problems and for the short while it lasts they are able to relax and forget about their worries, but this is in no way a long term solution to their problems. Cancer Research UK says that men who were classified as ‘most deprived’ were at a 2.5 times greater risk for lung cancer than those who were least deprived. Most deprived women were at a staggering 2.7 times greater risk for lung cancer – this can be a result of the increasing number of single mothers in deprived areas. Alcohol is not a permanent fix for any problems the lower classes face, and it will also increase their expenses as the price of alcohol and cigarettes is constantly increasing.
Although people that are economically better of can more easily afford better diets, and housing it is unfair to suggest that all poor people have poor lifestyles. Alcohol problems are mainly found among the lower social classes, but it is not to say that they do not exist within the higher social classes, as they themselves also deal with stressful problems. Children within a higher social class family may also face neglect if
Show More

Related Documents: Link Between Health and Wealth in South Africa Essay

History Coursework Part B Essay

expansion and dismantling of the British Empire in Africa in the years 1880 – 1980. In order to establish the significance of the strategic considerations in bringing about the expansion and dismantling of the British Empire in Africa, we need to acknowledge the different entities that clearly affected the strategic considerations in the years 1880 – 1980 and were significant contributory factors. Namely these may be recognised as being the scramble for Africa, the inter-war period, the aftermath of World…

Words 1398 - Pages 6

Africa notes Essay

to make a distinction between reality and misrepresentation? African studies in US because of the cold war Why do we think American studies have been marginalized in the American education? History should be use as a vehicle to create a better society Embrace all histories Huge wealth gap in Africa Forbes in Africa MIDDLE EAST = TOP PART = WHITE PART = ARABIC BLACK AFRICA = EVERYTHING ELSE DOWN = REAL AFRICA SOUTH AFRICA = 1994 people believed it had nothing to do with Africa This course is important…

Words 2685 - Pages 11

Essay on Poverty and Development Gap

advantages and disadvantages of methods of closing the development gap Key Terms: Aid | Refers to gifts or repayable loans made by one country to another | Apartheid | Meaning segregation, used to describe a political and legal system used in South Africa to separate different ethnic groups | Bilateral aid | Foreign aid (in the shape of money, expertise, education or technology) from a single donor to a country | Bottom-up development | Occurs at a community level – people’s needs are indentified…

Words 4057 - Pages 17

Barriers To Poorest Countries

Throughout the world there is a huge disparity in the wealth between nations in the world. Whilst the richest countries maintain a high quality of life the same cannot be said for those poorest countries (LDC’s). LDC countries often have population living in poverty with a low quality of life, barely any social mobility and little if any access to change and develop as a country. However the world seeks to change these impacts and hopes to change the future of LDC countries, but around the world…

Words 996 - Pages 4

Bangledesh as a Third world country Essay

sanitation and labor under oppressive governments. Many have endured years of warfare that have decimated populations. Most of these third world countries can be found in Africa, there are several in Asia as well. Here we will focus on the country of Bangladesh, officially the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, located in South Asia. Bangladesh has a long history dating back to the 16th century. Despite, or, because of this long history Bangladesh has remained an underdeveloped country with many current…

Words 2066 - Pages 9

IB Notes Essay

exchange of things of value Domestic business: most of transactions within borders of the country in which it is based. Relies primarily on products and services made in Canada International business: the economic system of transactions conducted between businesses located in different countries Domestic market: all your customers live in the country where your business operates Foreign market: consists of all the customers in a country other than your own 5 Ways a Business Could Be Considered…

Words 7221 - Pages 29

Politics: Human Rights and States Essay

N. Link between nationalism and the state- very problematic relationship. Nationalism is what makes a lot of nation states initially come together but it also gives rise to conflict, dis-function and difficulties in the WA. National security- realists love to look at security and see it as most central to world politics. In 1945- 51 member of the U.N- now there is 193- most recent was south Sudan. In 1945 UN was dominated by Europe and the Americas (north and south)- then it grew between 1945-2000…

Words 7377 - Pages 30

Early American History Research Paper

Slavery was a major factor in the establishment of the agricultural prosperity of America, especially in the cotton and tobacco sectors. Large plantations in the South used slave labour, which produced unheard-of revenues and economic expansion for the country. Slavery left behind an economic legacy that shaped the early American economy and established the framework for later industrialization and capitalism. Moreover…

Words 1540 - Pages 7

Essay on energy and poverty

Rural Energy Needs and Sustainable Development 1. Introduction To the rural people, energy is an essential element both for the fulfillment of basic needs-especially cooking and heating, but also hygiene, health, etc. –and for sustainable rural development, including energy for agriculture, food processing and education. However, today, there are still nearly 2 billion people who have no access to adequate energy services (Goldemberg, 2000, 368). How to address the energy needs of the…

Words 3179 - Pages 13

Nike Financial Analysis Essay

Nike Financial Analysis Nike is a company that has thoroughly embedded itself into the psyche of people around the world. It's a company that started with humble origins from selling footwear in the basement to becoming the behemoth in the athletic industry. Bill Bowerman, University of Oregon track & field coach, and Phil Knight, middle-distance runner under Bowerman co-founded Nike. Nike was first established as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 as a partnership and the name Nike was officially adopted…

Words 2489 - Pages 10