Social class and health inequalities

Abstract

Research has long shown that— within the same society— average health status is better for some population groups than others. Health inequalities (also known as health inequities or health disparities) refer to avoidable differences in health status between population groups. While health inequalities can relate to any aspect of social location, research has historically centred on differences in health between social classes (now more commonly equated with socioeconomic position). Health inequalities have also been described in relation to other aspects of social location that intersect with social class, such as gender, ethnicity/race and geographic location. The concept of intersectionality refers to the interrelated nature of these social groupings and is useful in thinking critically about the limitations of the categories used in health inequalities research.

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