Assessment 1: Portfolio
Introduction
In this portfolio, the case scenario of Hasan will be thoroughly assessed to understand the socio-economic determinants that restrict one from accessing equal healthcare facilities. In this portfolio, health inequalities that exist in a society like Bradford will be discussed based on Hasan’s case study, along with the analysis of the impact of social factors that can impact on health and well-being of individuals living in a deprived society.
Local Health Profile of Bradford:
Profiling Bradford: Bradford, with a population of around 547,000, is a youthful and ethically diverse city. Upon analyzing the city's population density, it was apparent that 25.7 per cent of the population is under the age limit of 18, 27.9 per cent is under 20, and the median age is 36.8 (Office of the Chief Executive , 2023).
Community composition: Bradford is recognised for its ethnic diversity, with a significant population from different backgrounds. Approximately, 67.44 per cent of the population identifies as White, while a substantial number of the population comes from Asian (15,271), and Black (9.671) ethnic groups. This multicultural environment fosters a rich tapestry of cultural practices and community interaction.
Health profile: the health profile of Bradford indicates the challenges typical of urban areas. Life expectancy is lower than the national average with males living to about 76.6 years and females to 81.1 years. According to the Office for National Statistics or ONS, the life expectancy statistics for Bradford ((Cunningham, 2024):
- The life expectancy in Bradford is lower than the average for England.
- The life expectancy in Bradford is lower for males than for females.
- The life expectancy in Bradford is lower in some wards
- The prevalence rate of chronic conditions like Cardiovascular disorder or CHD (coronary heart disease) in Bradford is higher than the national average with an estimated 2.9 per cent of the population diagnosed with CHD in 2020-21.
- The overall prevalence of heart failure stands at 0.98%, which aligns closely with the England average of 0.95%.
- Bradford district has the highest mortality rate of 1,225 per 100,000 for all cardiovascular diseases which exceeds the national average rate.
Apart from CVD, respiratory disease or COPD is another chronic health condition with a 2.5 per cent prevalence rate higher than the national average rate (Al Wachami et al., 2024). Other chronic health conditions include hypertension (13.8%), diabetes (8.9%), and depression (12.2%).
Infrastructure: the health infrastructure of Brandford, UK includes hospitals, research centres, and public health services. The National Health Service or NHS plays an important role in delivering healthcare to the community, focusing on both preventive care and treatment options. The district is served by major hospitals like Bradford Royal Infirmary, and St. Luke’s Hospital, along with a network of community health centres and GP practices which ensure primary and acute care is accessible to the population of the city (Frankland & Myall, 2024).
Community network and support: Bradford has established various network aims to foster community engagement and support. Local organisations at the Bradford work to promote integration among different ethnic groups and provide resources for education, employment, and health services. Bradford Linking Network and other local voluntary organisations are used to engage with schools, faith groups and community centres to promote health education and preventive programs. These initiatives help mitigate social isolation and improve mental health, well-being, and community cohesion.
Inequalities Exist in Communities
In Bradford, significant inequalities exist which can impact the health and well-being of families like Hasan’s. The socioeconomic challenges faced by this family are reflective of braider community issues, particularly surrounding poverty, health disparities, and access to resources.
Poverty and Deprivation:
Bradford is ranked as one of the most deprived areas in England with 22-23 per cent of children in Bradford living below the poverty level and 35 per cent of the working-age population dying in poverty. Upon analysing the case scenario, it was seen that Hasan’s family is living in a low-income scenario, which places them among one in three families in Bradford who experience poverty in the district (McCabe et al., 2024). This financial strain affects their ability to access nutritious foods, healthcare and educational opportunities. The local high street’s limited availability of fresh produce and abundance of takeaway contributes to poor dietary choices, exacerbating health issues like Hassan’s Type 2 diabetes and obesity. According to research, communities like Hasan’s with higher degrees of low-income households, unemployment, and debt- there is a significantly higher prevalence of chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. On the other hand, economic hardship can also be considered as another contributing factors to health inequality which limit people from accessing necessary health support (Bartley & Kelly-Irving, 2024). By linking with the case scenario, it can be stated that the high debt rate, overtime work to manage the household bills, excessive stress, and family issues have restricted Hasan from keeping control of his health and missed his appointment at a diabetic hospital. This aggravates the risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity for Hasan to a considerable extent.
Health Inequality:
The prevalence of chronic diseases in Bradford is notably high, for example, the prevalence rate of diabetes among the population is higher than the national data, where many individuals used to struggle to manage this condition due to lack of inadequate education. Hasan’s lack of understanding about the medication, and dietary requirements highlights a critical gap in health literacy which on the other hand can be linked with socio-economic status. Hasan’s case exemplified how socioeconomic inequalities in deprived communities contribute to poor health outcomes (Sanyal Puja et al., 2024). Living in a low-income, and highly-deprived area in Bradford, Hasan faced structural barriers, like limited access to affordable nutritional food, scarce green spaces, and high streets dominated by takeaways worsening the health conditions and expanding the pathway for developing chronic health conditions like hypertension, obesity. On the other hand, Hasan’s inadequate health literacy, chronic stress from family responsibility and irregular work patterns further compound his condition.
Educational Barrier:
Educational attainment in Bradford is lower than the national average with 13 per cent of the working-age population in this city lacking adequate qualification. These educational disadvantages not only can limit job opportunities but can also perpetuate the cycle of poverty. Hasan’s son Hussain is already falling behind in school due to family responsibilities and stressors at home. Additionally, in the case of Hasan, poor education restricts him from understanding the medication regime and monitoring his blood glucose level along with the ongoing pressure from family caregiving and financial burden, which are very common among the deprived communities. Many researches (Zahra et al., 2024; McDermott et al., 2024 ) indicate that individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to experience chronic stress, which is known to exacerbate conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Analysing Hasan’s case scenario, it is emblematic of the ‘double burden’ faced by those who are living in high-deprivation areas, where the surrounding conditions and scenarios lead the people to develop chronic conditions. Overall his health struggles including high BMI rate (32) onset of Type 2 Diabetes, and smoking habits can directly be linked to the inequalities inherent in his community.
One Social factor that can influence the health and well-being of the individual
Hasan, a 48-year-old taxi driver living in Bradford, exemplifies the way socio-economic deprivation can significantly impact health and well-being. These social factors encompass various dimensions, including income level, access to resources, and overall living conditions, which play important roles in determining health outcomes.
Impact of deprivation on Hasan’s health:
According to Fernández Ruiz-Gálvez (2024), deprivation is an important social determinant that markedly influences the health outcomes of any individual, as illustrated in Hasan’s case. Upon analysing his case, it was seen how poverty and social disadvantage can lead to a cascade of adverse health outcomes. His community is characterised by high unemployment, limited access to nutritious food scarce green spaces and local high streets crowded with takeaways rather than fresh-produced outlets. This economic and environmental deprivation contributes to poor dietary habits, as Hasan due to a lack of access to nutritious foods used to depend on consuming fact and carbohydrate-rich foods that directly impacted his health and triggered the onset of type 2 diabetes, obesity and high BMI rate. On the other hand, his financial strain also limits his access to healthcare services, consumption of nutritious foods and educational opportunities. Moreover, in Bradford, limited recreational spaces, and the lack of fresh food outlets in Hasan’s neighbourhood reduced the scope of regular physical activity and healthy eating habits, which further entrenches his risk factors for chronic disease. According to many studies Schwarz et al. (2022), deprived communities not only have higher rates of chronic illness but can also encounter systemic barriers to accessing quality healthcare, which makes disease management even more challenging.
Research states that individuals in low-income communities face a higher burden of chronic disease. For example, low-income households are significantly more likely to experience poor health outcomes and higher rates of conditions including diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. (Lemstra et al., 2015).
In the case of Hasam his inability to understand his medication regime, and how to monitor his blood glucose level restricts him to control the disease condition, and indicates to the braider structural barrier such as low health literacy, which often found in deprived settings. Therefore, in the case of Hasan, deprivation created a multi-layer risk environment that fuels his chronic health condition. Breaking the cycle of poor health outcomes requires addressing such deprivation through focused health education, improved community infrastructure, and easier access to reasonably priced healthful foods. As a result, measures to lessen deprivation may greatly enhance Hasan's general health and lower his chance of experiencing more serious side effects like renal or cardiovascular illness.
One Sociological theory:
Conflict theory in sociology refers to the theory which suggests that society is in a constant state of constant state of conflict over limited resources (Bailey, 2025). According to the conflict theory, society is structured around power differentials and economic inequalities, where the dominant groups used to maintain their advantage at the expense of the less privileged, in terms of health, conflict theory states that social and economic disparities directly shape access to resources, influencing individual’s ability to achieve optimal health. At the group level, conflict theory states that communities like Hasan who reside in the underprivileged areas of Bradford, used to be systematically disadvantaged due to unequal resource distribution. In such areas, the high unemployment rates, widespread poverty, scarcity of green space, and concentration of bad food establishments are not coincidental; rather, they are the outcome of economic policies and practices that favour more affluent places. Residents are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses including diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity as a result of this structural marginalisation. A collective health disadvantage results from the community's environment, which is formed by systemic injustices and limits access to recreational opportunities, wholesome food, and high-quality healthcare (Li et al., 2024).
At the individual level, Hasan’s experience reflects how these macro-level forces manifest in personal health outcomes. As a taxi driver, working long and irregular hours in low-income households, Hasan faces significant barriers to managing his health. His struggles with managing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity are not solely due to personal choice but are deeply influenced by the structural condition of his surrounding environment. For example, his limited financial resources restricted him from affording nutritional food and adequate healthcare services (Walker-Pow et al., 2024). Additionally, the chronic stress associated with financial insecurity and family caregiving further exacerbates his health problem. Therefore by applying the conflict theory, it can be stated that Hasan’s health challenges are symptomatic of broader societal inequalities, resource scarcity, and social marginalisation which can create an environment where poor health is almost inevitable.
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Conclusion
To conclude this portfolio, Hasan's story demonstrates the significant negative effects of socioeconomic hardship on health and wellbeing. Individual health outcomes are shaped by structural inequities, which highlight the need for focused interventions to address these disparities and enhance resource access in underserved communities like Bradford. This is seen through the lens of conflict theory.
References
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