Create a new account

It's simple, and free.

Social Class, Health, and Illness

"Social Class, Health, and Illness" by Dutton (1993). The purpose of this reading was to present the social class differences and their relationship to health and illness, with an emphasis on morbidity and mortality and possible causes. Insights pointed out by the author that offered new and interesting information will be discussed in this review.

As the author begins her presentation with a discussion of social class and health, she points out that those at the bottom have the highest rates of disease and death and that race correlates with social class. Although this tendency seems a logical conclusion, it is further pointed out that "the United States ranks sixteenth in the world in infant mortality" due to high rates among the minority and the poor, with infectious diseases remaining a threat to the disadvantaged (p. 471). The prevalence of adult causes of death such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are also higher in low-income persons. This insight is a shock, considering the wealth and medical capability found in the U.S. While it is no surprise that the plight of the poor remains in existence, even in the U.S., it is a shock that it exists to the degree that it does. With all of the plenty that is prevalent in this country, it is easy to overlook the fact that more than just a few continue to suffer greatly, and based on this article, one would conclude that apparently this oversight is exactly what is happening.

The author continues to present possible explanations for this plight, and mentions the cycle of poverty and illness, which may include biological and emotional stresses or it may be based on life-style factors, or both. Studies continue to research the effects of all these possibilities and conclude that all appear to correlate with low-income problems, and thus it is probable that the answer to the problem contains all elements. This is no surprise, the shock here is that r

...

Page 1 of 4 Next >

More on Social Class, Health, and Illness...

Loading...
APA     MLA     Chicago
Social Class, Health, and Illness. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 09:58, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1689028.html