Articles tagged with Inequalities
Brazil's unique national health service has improved health outcomes, but socioeconomic disparities and regional inequalities remain. The authors emphasize the need for coordinated action among government, private sector, academia, and civil society to address these challenges and secure universal access to healthcare.
Two studies published in the Journal of Dental Research found significant income-related inequalities in dental service utilization and tooth loss among Europeans aged 50+ and US adults. Income inequality was associated with higher odds of reporting greater tooth loss, highlighting the need to address social determinants of health.
A recent economic crisis has led to a surge in income inequalities, which have been linked to an increased risk of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. The study highlights the growing gap between socio-economic groups, with lower-income individuals facing a higher risk of mental health issues.
A recent study by Ronni Pavan of the University of Rochester and Nathaniel Baum-Snow found that larger US cities drive growing wage gaps between the rich and poor. The study used U.S. Census data and American Community Surveys from 1980 to 2007, finding that larger metropolitan areas have experienced rapid growth in wages within all sk...
A UT professor's study found that economic inequality increases both the rich and poor becoming more conservative, reducing support for government programs. The study analyzed hundreds of thousands of survey responses from 1952 to 2006, revealing a self-perpetuating phenomenon.
Research in 30 countries found substantial inequalities in maternal and newborn health, as well as access to healthcare. The study identifies two main patterns of urban inequality in developing countries, highlighting the need for improved access to care.
Research finds that linking financial incentives to quality improvement has improved primary care in the UK, leading to reduced heart disease deaths and hospital admissions. Practices with higher quality scores had lower death rates and fewer hospital admissions, especially in deprived areas.
A study by Kristin Jordan found that low-income students are overrepresented in community colleges due to limited access to college preparation programs. Access to such programs is crucial for increasing the chances of attending a more selective college, regardless of academic ability or SAT scores.
A study by Gail McGuire found that women are disadvantaged in informal networks developed at work, which can hinder future career goals. Women receive more social support from female colleagues, but this has limited career pay-off.
A study found that US hospitals in disadvantaged areas lag behind in treating heart failure and heart attack, despite improvement over time. The pay-for-performance program may exacerbate existing inequalities in the healthcare system.
Researchers have developed a new, certifiably random number generator using fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. This method ensures private randomness, crucial for secure data encryption and communication, making it difficult to predict the sequence of numbers.
Researchers found that the brain responds more strongly to a poor person receiving a financial reward than a rich person, even if the brain being studied belongs to the rich individual. This study suggests that the human brain is wired to respond to inequality, contradicting the prevailing view of human nature as solely self-interested.
Researcher Bruce S. McEwen explores how daily life experiences contribute to overall wear and tear, known as allostatic load, which can lead to lifelong health problems. He emphasizes the importance of improving early childhood development through supportive home environments and parental aid.
The Marmot Review advocates for proportionate universalism to address health inequalities, emphasizing fairness and social justice. By reducing health disparities, England could gain up to 2.5 million extra years of life, highlighting the importance of addressing socio-economic inequalities.
Researchers analyzed data from 43 estimates of family wealth inheritance to find that technologies producing a society's livelihood are key factors in financial inequality. In contrast, hunter-gatherer societies exhibit lower levels of economic inequality due to the transferability of wits and social connections.
Researchers found that material possessions are easily passed on, while social networks and foraging abilities are harder to transmit. Societies with a strong emphasis on material wealth tend to be the most unequal.
Research from the American Sociological Review reveals racial segregation fuels early achievement disparities between young black and white children. Socioeconomic desegregation alone is not effective in improving classroom performance, and competition for college admissions perpetuates class divide in higher education.
The Lancet Editorial highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, citing higher maternal and infant mortality rates in the Tamil-dominated northeast. The report attributes these inequalities to violence, economic embargo, and discrimination against Tamils.
Research by University of Pennsylvania economists finds the American population as a whole is no happier than it was three decades ago, but happiness inequality has narrowed significantly. The study found that non-whites report being significantly happier than they were in the early 1970s, while whites are slightly less happy.
A study from the University of Bath found that smokers who used a support group were more than twice as likely to quit smoking compared to those using a pharmacy-based service. The researchers also discovered that both types of services are cost-effective, with the pharmacy-based service being less costly to deliver.
The study suggests that trade liberalization can exacerbate poverty, income inequality, and economic insecurity, leading to poorer health outcomes. The authors highlight the importance of social protection policies to mitigate these negative effects on public health.
Research published in American Sociological Review reveals a significant increase in income inequality among US families with children since 1975. The study found that family type and education level played key roles in shaping income disparities, with single-parent families without working mothers exhibiting the greatest inequality.
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) plays a vital role in protecting children from maltreatment by promoting accountability and transparency. The convention's human rights-based approach has been shown to be effective in addressing child maltreatment, including poverty, discrimination, and institutional failures.
The Lancet Editorial suggests that President-elect Barack Obama's administration should prioritize health system strengthening to address the uninsured US residents. The plan includes payment choices, universal children's health insurance, and pre-existing condition coverage.
A recent study found that exposure to green spaces significantly narrowed the health gap between rich and poor populations. In England, areas with more green space had half as large a difference in mortality rates between the richest and poorest individuals compared to those in less green areas.
Paranoia is on the increase, with one in four people experiencing regular paranoid thoughts. Urbanization, poverty, and wealth inequality are linked to poor health and mental illness, fuelling a culture of paranoia. Dr Freeman calls for urgent action to stem the rise in paranoia at both individual and societal levels.
A new study by Debabrata Talukdar found that low-income households pay more for groceries without access to a car. This phenomenon, dubbed the 'ghetto tax,' is largely driven by the higher prices charged at corner stores, which lack competition from larger regional or national chains.
A UK study found that financial incentives reduced inequalities in clinical care between affluent and poor areas. Practices serving poorer populations improved their performance over time, narrowing the gap with more affluent areas.
Van H. Vu recognized for developing fundamental concentration inequalities applicable to various contexts, including projective geometry and theoretical computer science. He will receive the George Pólya Prize, an engraved medal and a $20,000 cash award.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that only 19% of women in the developing world have been screened effectively for cervical cancer. The study reveals significant inequalities in access to screening services between and within countries.
A recent study by the University of Bath found that smokers from poorer areas are using NHS stop smoking services and successfully quitting at a higher rate than those from more affluent communities. The overall proportion of smokers from disadvantaged areas accessing these services is also higher, suggesting that the NHS stop smoking ...
A global review of Bug Buster Kits reveals they significantly reduce head lice infestations and alleviate social stigma. The kits are particularly effective when used by the whole school community, involving children, parents, and healthcare staff.
A CU-Boulder study of 61 US metropolitan areas found varying levels of environmental racism, defying simple explanation. The study contradicts hypotheses that residential segregation or income inequality drive environmental racial inequality.
A pioneering study reveals that the world's wealthiest individuals hold disproportionately large amounts of wealth, with the top 10% owning 85% of global assets. The richest countries in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific contribute to this concentration of wealth.
A recent study by Yale University researchers highlights substantial global health inequalities influenced by economic, social, and health-sector variables. Countries with low income and high mortality rates have lower investment in human and physical resources, more health risks, and worse educational outcomes.
The study reveals substantial global health inequalities influenced by geography, with countries like sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan facing higher child mortality rates. The authors found a four-fold difference in poverty levels and less investment in human resources between these countries and their low-mortality counterparts.
Injuries are the third leading cause of death in Europe after cardiovascular disease and cancer, causing significant socioeconomic inequalities in death rates. The authors call for investment in safety measures, including legislation, enforcement, media campaigns, and education to address these inequalities and reduce injury rates.
Researchers found that Maori were nearly ten times more likely to experience discrimination than Europeans, leading to poor self-rated health, low mental health, and cardiovascular disease. After controlling for age, sex, deprivation, and racism, the inequalities in health outcomes between Maori and Europeans significantly reduced.
Health researchers across Canada will investigate social determinants of health, ethnic influences on aging, and disparities among Aboriginal peoples, children, rural youth, seniors, and sexual minorities. The research aims to improve the lives of vulnerable Canadians and build stronger communities.
In Scotland, attainment levels at 16 have narrowed slightly over the past 20 years, but social inequality in attainment at 18 has widened. Despite this, working-class youngsters consistently outperform their English peers.
The Lancet editorial calls on UK Parliament members to consider the health implications of voting on a smoking ban. Exemptions for pubs without food service may perpetuate health inequalities and increase second-hand smoke exposure, particularly in poorer areas.
A new study reveals that reliable resources like salmon, high population densities, and the defense of territories were crucial for the development of marked inequality in North America. Conversely, Australian Aboriginal societies on the tropical northern coast exhibited 'transient inequality' due to polygyny and high resource availabi...
A study of 1150 pubs in North West England found that 44% do not serve food and would be exempt from smokefree legislation. The proportion of non-food serving pubs increases with deprivation levels, contradicting the government's goal to reduce health inequalities due to smoking.
A third of babies born each year are unregistered, lacking legal rights to healthcare and education. Universal birth registration is key to collecting data on health inequalities and promoting equity.
A new commission aims to address health inequalities globally by focusing on the social determinants of health. The commission's findings highlight the need for governments to take action on poverty, education, and working conditions to improve health outcomes.
The World Health Organization is launching an independent Commission on Social Determinants of Health to review evidence and recommend policies to improve health globally. The commission aims to address the social factors that contribute to ill health, including poverty, education, housing, and economics.
A recent study analyzed skeletal data from thousands of skeletons in northern Europe and found that average height declined slightly during the 12th-16th centuries and hit an all-time low during the 17th-18th centuries. The study suggests climate change, urbanization, and inequality as contributing factors to this decline.
The Cardiff Institute of Society, Health and Ethics aims to produce high-quality evidence to address health inequalities and improve public health in Wales. The institute will focus on tackling issues such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and urinary disorders through community-based initiatives and research.
Researchers at the University of Washington found that existing school systems perpetuate inequality through hidden special treatment and segregation. The study suggests expanding overcrowded schools could alleviate abuses, contradicting warnings about school choice programs increasing racial segregation and inequality.
A University of Washington scholar argues that massive wealth disparity has severely weakened US democracy, fueling the power of corporate money in politics. This trend traces back to President Reagan's policy philosophy, which continues to shape national politics.
The repeal of the estate tax may lead to increased wealth inequality, particularly among minority groups, with potential costs for most American families. The tax reduction is expected to decrease philanthropic giving by up to 12 percent annually due to lower inheritance donations not being taxed.
A new study reveals persistent gender inequalities in the Philadelphia region, with women facing lower median incomes and overrepresented in low-paying jobs. The report also highlights the disproportionate burden of caring labor on women, which contributes to their lower earnings.
Professor Lipman's research highlights how current policies exacerbate existing inequalities and create new ones. She recommends providing all students with an intellectually rich education, deploying significant resources to under-resourced schools, and challenging deficit notions about children of color.
The American Sociological Association's President emphasizes the need to study mechanisms driving social inequalities in the workplace. Researchers should focus on organizational and societal-level factors, such as design of work and promotions, to understand how ascriptive characteristics affect inequality.
Research finds that rural areas could benefit from morbidity-based approaches to addressing health inequalities. The study challenges the assumption that higher hospital rates are always a good thing, suggesting instead a need for stronger public health initiatives and more robust monitoring of fair access.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that states with larger proportions of African Americans are more likely to have the death penalty. Economic inequality within a state also plays a significant role in determining its likelihood of having capital punishment.
Research found that racial earnings disparities are smallest in low-paid occupations and largest in high-paid ones. Black professionals face significant disadvantages due to limited access to lucrative customer bases, occupational segregation, and lower social networks.
The American Sociological Association presents annual awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the profession of sociology. Winners are selected for their scholarly work, teaching, and practical applications, aiming to advance the discipline and public good. Recipients include researchers, educators, and practitioners who have ...
A recent study by the American Sociological Association found that men tend to do less household chores when they live with a partner. The research suggests that this shift in domestic workload can have significant implications for relationships and overall well-being.