What are health inequalities in Scotland?

Health inequalities are the unfair and avoidable differences in people’s health across social groups and between different population groups. They represent thousands of unnecessary premature deaths every year in Scotland, and for men in the most deprived areas nearly 24 fewer years spent in ‘good health’.

How ethnicity affects health inequalities?

Race reduces health disparities to biological factors, thereby marginalising the social forces that are overwhelmingly the main causes for health inequalities among different groups. Focusing on race directs attention at individuals rather than unequal social relationships that cause ill health.

What are the biggest health issues in Scotland?

Leading causes of death in Scotland

• Ischaemic heart disease: 6,615 (11.3%)
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: 6,484 (11.1%)
• Lung cancer: 3,980 (6.8%)
• Cerebrovascular disease (including stroke): 3,831 (6.5%)
• Chronic lower respiratory diseases (eg bronchitis and emphysema): 3,469 (5.9%)

How does ethnicity affect healthcare?

In spite of significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of most chronic diseases, there is evidence that racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive lower quality of care than nonminorities and that, patients of minority ethnicity experience greater morbidity and mortality from various chronic diseases than …

Are there inequalities between ethnic groups in Scotland?

There are significant inequalities between ethnic groups in Scotland when it comes to health needs and outcomes. You will find resources and data around ethnic and migrant health below. ‘Migrant’ covers anyone who comes to Scotland from outside the UK, including refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants.

Where can I find health inequalities in Scotland?

Trends in health inequalities in Scotland for a longer time period (1981-2001) are available in a report from the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit (external site). Data currently available for inequalities in health between equality groups (e.g. ethnicity or gender) is summarised on the ScotPHO site (external site).

Which is the healthiest ethnic group in Scotland?

Scottish data suggest that minority ethnic groups, with some exceptions such as Gypsy/Travellers, have better general health than the majority of the white population. These differences can vary by disease and ethnic group. Obesity prevalence varies substantially between ethnic groups.

How often are ethnic groups recorded in Scottish health records?

Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland provides twice yearly reports on recording ethnic groups in hospital records (external website) to improve equality and diversity monitoring. You may be interested in the migrant health action resources (external website) for Scotland on the Scottish Public Health Network (ScotPHN) site.