Social Determinants of Health in Canada
An overview of the impact of poverty and income inequality on the health of Canadians is provided. Increasing poverty is seen to go handin-hand with increasing income inequality.
Both poverty and income inequality result from governmental social and economic policy decisions. Poverty is also increased by weakening of social safety nets and other supports. Documentation is provided of the growing incidence of poverty and income inequality and how both of these impact upon the health of Canadians.
Poverty directly harms the health of those with low incomes while income inequality affects the health of all Canadians through the weakening of social infrastructure and the destruction of social cohesion. Recommendations for addressing increasing poverty and income inequality are provided. It is emphasized that reducing poverty and income inequality should be grounded in an approach that recognizes the importance of citizen participation and civic involvement. The purpose of this paper is to consider the issue of poverty, income and health in Canada. This analysis is based on what are termed the social determinants of health (Marmot & Wilkinson, 1999; Wilkinson
& Marmot, 1998). This literature links health outcomes to how societies are organized and resources allocated. And one of the most important societal factors related to health appears to be the degree of poverty present within a jurisdiction (Reutter, 1995; Haines & Smith,
1997; Warden, 1998). After considering the evidence concerning the incidence of poverty in Canada, I examine how poverty is linked to poor health. I will argue that the health consequences of the growing levels of poverty in Canada are profound and will be longstanding whatever efforts may eventually be made to reduce its incidence.
Finally, I present means by which poverty could be reduced were the political will to do so present (Yalnizyan, 2000).
It has been known for many decades
Both poverty and income inequality result from governmental social and economic policy decisions. Poverty is also increased by weakening of social safety nets and other supports. Documentation is provided of the growing incidence of poverty and income inequality and how both of these impact upon the health of Canadians.
Poverty directly harms the health of those with low incomes while income inequality affects the health of all Canadians through the weakening of social infrastructure and the destruction of social cohesion. Recommendations for addressing increasing poverty and income inequality are provided. It is emphasized that reducing poverty and income inequality should be grounded in an approach that recognizes the importance of citizen participation and civic involvement. The purpose of this paper is to consider the issue of poverty, income and health in Canada. This analysis is based on what are termed the social determinants of health (Marmot & Wilkinson, 1999; Wilkinson
& Marmot, 1998). This literature links health outcomes to how societies are organized and resources allocated. And one of the most important societal factors related to health appears to be the degree of poverty present within a jurisdiction (Reutter, 1995; Haines & Smith,
1997; Warden, 1998). After considering the evidence concerning the incidence of poverty in Canada, I examine how poverty is linked to poor health. I will argue that the health consequences of the growing levels of poverty in Canada are profound and will be longstanding whatever efforts may eventually be made to reduce its incidence.
Finally, I present means by which poverty could be reduced were the political will to do so present (Yalnizyan, 2000).
It has been known for many decades