What is it about?

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the background to well-established observations about health inequalities in order to inform health professionals in their attempts to do something about the health of the general public. In practical terms the questions are: How do those facts which influence us all, differ in the way in which they combine to influence each one of us? How can that information be used to improve the health and life chances of each one of us?

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Why is it important?

It offers advice as to how professionals can empower the public to seek and maintain better health as well as enhancing their control over the apparently implacable relationships between the health of individuals and their place in the social structure.

Perspectives

This chapter is supremely well suited to the text which is concerned with public health and society. The argument of this chapter is that individual experiences of health and illness are frequently glossed over for the purposes of measuring the extent of the problem throughout/across society - the 'general public' - and, thereby, influencing governmental policy at the societal level. If public health is to make a difference it is through the health professionals who deal directly with individuals and groups – these are the “means” that facilitate change – alongside the actions taken independently by those individuals. Any means to directly influence the lives and circumstances of individuals will facilitate health gain and health improvement.

Dr Ron Iphofen
Independent

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Social and Individual Factors Influencing Public Health, January 2003, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4039-3744-5_2.
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