Module: Health Inequalities and the Social Determinants of Health

Lecture: Social Inequalities and Health (Part1)

 

The lectures in weeks two, three and four will introduce a number of the key theoretical and conceptual foundations to health inequalities and their social determinants including:

  • definitions of inequality and inequity, and their different dimensions and applications.
  • the different ways in which social inequalities in health are measured and described 
  • the different meanings attributed to the concept of ‘social determinants’
  • the theories that explain the social causation of health inequalities; including their interaction with other non-social factors
  • the tension between individual and population-wide epidemiology / risk factor analysis

Lecture Notes and Powerpoints

Seminar

This seminar will discuss the data, concepts and arguments presented in the three compulsory readings from week 1. Based on these readings, students will be asked to discuss and critique the theories of demographic and epidemiological transition. Students will be asked to consider how epidemiological patterns and trends should inform policy, priority-setting and programme design.

 

Compulsory Readings


Additional Readings

 

  • Braveman P, 2006. Health disparities and health inequity: concepts and measurement. Annual Review of Public Health, 27: 167-94  (Read it here)
  • Rose G, 1985. Sick individuals and sick populations. International Journal of Epidemiology, 14: 32-38. (Read it here)