Social inequalities in health – the result of the medicalization of health promotion? Cover Image

Społeczne nierówności w zdrowiu – efekt medykalizacji promocji zdrowia?
Social inequalities in health – the result of the medicalization of health promotion?

Author(s): Zofia A. Słońska, Jacek Koziarek
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
Keywords: health promotion; medicalization; sustaining of social inequalities in health

Summary/Abstract: Differentiation of social positions leads to the differentiation of health status in the social structure. This relationship results in the phenomenon of social inequalities in health. Health promotion has been created to improve health status and reduce the social inequalities in populations through building resources for health and healthy lifestyles and ensuring their egalitarian distribution. Taking into account the tasks of health promotion we can premise that the implementation of it creates opportunities for the reduction in social inequalities in health, but on condition that health promotion is not being medicalized. In this article we attempt to substantiate the hypothesis speaking that there is the relationship between the medicalization of health promotion and the sustaining of social inequalities in health over time.

  • Issue Year: 9/2011
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 64-75
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Polish