Health and society: disparities in access to healthcare services
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20251188Keywords:
social aspects of health, inequalities in access, health services, social justice, healthcare, vulnerable groupsAbstract
Introduction: As problems of social aspects of health and increased population segmentation have emerged, the question of access to the necessary medical services has become one of the most acute in modern society.
Objective: This study aims to analyse the social determinants of health and healthcare services and determine major dynamics that affect equal utilisation of healthcare services.
Methods: The study used an integrated approach comprised of statistical analysis, sociological research and health policy analysis was adopted.
Results: The following findings established that lack of equitable health access affects the populace's health and social order. Lack of health insurance and low income significantly hamper the ability to get good quality healthcare. Regional disparities are also vital, mainly because rural facilities do not possess the appropriate tools. In order to address the this medical, social and economic problem, one has to act and investigate more thoroughly.
Conclusions: Since the subject of the work is the analysis of the social aspects of health, emphasis is placed on the availability of healthcare for populations deprived of it either financially, geographically, or through other restraints. This primarily focuses more attention on the marginalised groups in society, including older adults, people experiencing poverty, people in remote areas and discriminated groups in health facilities
References
1. Kysil IV. International experience of inequalities in access to health care. Journal of International Medicine. 2021;5(2):35–42.
2. Lukianova NI. Inequality in access to medical services: the experience of Ukraine. Sociological Studies. 2020;4(7):45–52.
3. Timmermans S, Haas S. Towards a sociology of disease. Sociology of Health and Illness. [Internet] 2008 [cited: 10 November 2024];30(5):659–676. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2008.01114.x
4. Kovalenko NO. Accessing medical services: social and economic aspects. Economics of health care. 2019;5(2):35–42.
5. Sydorenko MYu. Social determinants of health: theory and practice. Ukrainian Journal of Social Medicine. 2020;1(8):34–40.
6. Honchar OS. International and National Challenges in the Social Aspects of Health. Medicine and sociology questions. Sociological Bulletin. 2018;1(4):11–19.
7. Petrova OV. The impact of social factors on public health. Problems of social medicine. 2021;3(15):87–95.
8. Marmot M. Social determinants of health inequalities. The Lancet. [Internet] 2005 [cited: 10 November 2024];365(9464):1099–1104. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)71146-6
9. Lozovyi VA. The impact of the social environment on health. Social Policy. 2019;3(14):89–96.
10. Korolchuk O, Zyma I, Khrapatyi S, Vikhliaiev M, Zavalko K. Current issues of state regulation of psycho-social support in the conditions of war in Ukraine. Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology. [Internet] 2023 [cited: 10 November 2024];18(1-2):76–84. Available in: https://doi.org/10.5114/nan.2023.129075
11. Ager A, Strang A. Understanding integration: A conceptual framework. Journal of Refugee Studies. [Internet] 2008 [cited: 10 November 2024];21(2):166–191. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fen016
12. Levchenko AI. Psychological aspects of access to medical services. Journal of Psychological Research. 2018;3(5):34–40.
13. Phelan JC, Link BG. Fundamental sources of discrimination and health: A social conditions approach. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour. [Internet] 2005 [cited: 10 November 2024];46(1):8–23. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1177/002214650504600103
14. Wilkinson RG, Pickett K. The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better. Allen Lane; 2009.
15. Zuckerman S, Zhang H. The role of income and health insurance in access to health care. Health Services Research. [Internet] 2013 [cited: 10 November 2024];48(2):823–843. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.12040
16. Krieger N. A glossary for social epidemiology. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. [Internet] 2001 [cited: 10 November 2024];55(9):693–700. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.55.10.693
17. Reutter LI, Hanlon N. Socioeconomic inequalities in health: A review of the literature. Canadian Journal of Public Health. [Internet] 2004 [cited: 10 November 2024];95(3):143–148. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403613
18. Cockerham WC. Health lifestyle theory and the convergence of agency and structure. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour. [Internet] 2007 [cited: 10 November 2024];48(2):151–165. Available in: https://doi.org/10.1177/002214650704800204
19. Khanina O, Hladchenko A, Lavrentii D, Koval V, Dmytrenko I, Sobchenko S. Mechanisms of state management of personnel development of the health care system. Economic Affairs. [Internet] 2024 [cited: 10 November 2024];69:187–195. Available in: https://doi.org/10.46852/0424-2513.1.2024.21
20. Collins C, Leigland J. Health care access and the role of community health workers. American Journal of Public Health. [Internet] 2014 [cited: 10 November 2024];104(5):851–857. Available in: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301647
21. Kyrychenko OV. Health inequality and its economic determinants. Sociology and Law. 2020;1(9):47–55.
22. Burström B, Tao W. Social determinants of health and health inequalities in Sweden: A review. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2019;47(2):113–123.
23. Lytvynenko KV. The role of the state in ensuring equal access to healthcare services. Topical issues of health care. 2020;4(6):29–36.
24. Mulska O, Vasyltsiv T, Shushkova Y, Kloba L, Parfenyuk Y. Assessment of the population's social resilience environment (the case of the Carpathian region of Ukraine). Problems and Perspectives in Management. [Internet] 2022 [cited: 10 November 2024];20(1):407–421. Available in: https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(1).2022.33
25. Ivanenko TP. Adaptation of health services to the needs of the people. Medical reform. 2021;4(11):22–28.
26. Nesterenko RS. Social risks in health care. Health of the population and the environment. 2020;2(8):58–64.
27. Shevchenko IV. Equality in access to medical services: a comparative analysis. Health of the nation. 2019;2(10):56–63.
28. Smedley BD, Stith AY, Nelson AR. Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care. National Academy Press; 2003.
29. Hryshchenko TV. Inequalities in health: the social dimension. Modern medicine. 2020;4(1):112–118.
30. Chornenka YuA. Influence of social factors on access to medical services. Actual health care problems. 2018;3(12):45–53.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Kyrylo Voronezhskyi, Ihor Ostapenko, Dmytro Gushcha, Larysa Sergiienko, Nataliia Holobutska (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The article is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Unless otherwise stated, associated published material is distributed under the same licence.