Social Inequalities in Health

Differences in health between social groups based on these social determinants are known as social inequalities in health. The findings of empirical studies conducted in Ukraine demonstrated the existence of social inequalities and a social gradient in health among gender and socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Ukraine has the largest percentage of individuals with poor self-reported health in both the high and low SES groups, according to a comparative analysis of Eastern European nations. Ukrainian and international researchers have used materialistic, psychosocial, cultural-behavioral, and intersectional approaches to health inequalities. There is also a strong correlation between socioeconomic factors and health outcomes as well as the social gradient in health. The psychosocial approach revealed health disparities between the genders as well as a negative relationship between life control, social position, and self-reported health. A cultural-behavioral approach states that there is a correlation between people’s low social status and unhealthy lifestyles. The intersectional approach also revealed the most vulnerable social groups within the Ukrainian population.