ABSTRACT
The recognition that poverty is a primary cause of ill health is again on the political agenda. As socio-economic inequalities have widened so have the differences in state of health. The Working Group had three tasks. Firstly, it was to review and analyse the data on social class differences in health. Secondly, it was to identify possible causes for the differences in health and suggest implications for public policy. Finally, it was to suggest further research. The Group recommended a broad approach by emphasising preventative, primary and community health care. It advocated a radical improvement in the material lives of the ‘poorer’ sections of society, particularly children and those with disabilities. Lifestyle explanations of health inequalities may have some limiting influence. Explanations are inadequate if they fail to account for the social and economic pressures that encourage lower social class groups to adopt certain lifestyles.
