Poor people die of common diseases in Norway

Economy and business: The poorest in Norway are five times as likely to die prematurely from diseases that can be treated or prevented, compared to the richest. This is revealed in the report “Social inequality in health”.

However, the report shows that for those diseases that are difficult to treat, the differences are marginal. It thus establishes that the social inequalities exist primarily for death from diseases that can be prevented or treated.

“Social inequality in health” was written by the National Association for Public Health in collaboration with the Directorate of Health, and it is presented on the Directorate’s website on Wednesday at 9am.

According to the report authors, the inequalities are due to a skewed distribution of resources, psychosocial stress and health behaviour. They therefore conclude that there is considerable room for action for politicians and the healthcare system to reduce health inequalities in society.

– In order to reduce health inequalities, measures must be put in place to equalize important resources and limit health-damaging exposure linked to all three of these areas. The measures must also be introduced along the entire socio-economic distribution, and not just limited to people and groups at the bottom of the social hierarchy, write the report authors at the outset.

– And that is good news because it means that this is something we can do something about. These new figures show the enormous potential we have to reduce the extent of unnecessary illness and death through equalizing social inequality, better prevention and treatment, she says.

Gerhardsen believes that life expectancy and health are determined to a far too large extent by income and education level – and that is unacceptable, she states.

– Everyone should not live the same life, but as a society we must do everything we can to ensure that everyone gets the same life chances, she says.

He also points out that there are different levels of health literacy in the population, and that it is therefore important that information and services are understandable and user-friendly for everyone – regardless of language, education and age.

– Social inequality can literally be deadly. The life and resources that come with a long education and high income protect health. The opposite results in an increased risk of dying from diseases that can be prevented and treated, says the director of health.

The report also states that people with a short education, equivalent to primary school, are three times as likely to die from causes that can be avoided, compared to people with higher education. Higher education means a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.

Mina Gerhardsen, secretary general of the National Association for Public Health, and director of health Bjørn Guldvog agree. Gerhardsen believes that the findings show that inequality in health is socially created.

Director of Health Guldvog believes that a more holistic approach to lifestyle change as part of both prevention and treatment will be an important factor in equalizing inequality.

(© NTB)