ABSTRACT
In any area of work there will always be a debate about what constitutes ‘best’ practice. Not every health promoter finds it easy to acknowledge economic and social determinants of health and social need in his or her practice but should realize that poverty and deprivation are determined by a number of complex and often interrelating factors such as:
income and social position limited education gender unemployment or low income geographical location lack of social support networks age social exclusion lifestyle poor housing disability sexual orientation culture and race
It is increasingly recognized that the experience of inequalities in health and social need reflects the interaction of a number of these factors: people occupy not one but multiple social positions which all bear consequences for health. Research shows that people in disadvantaged groups not only suffer more ill health and die younger, but they are less likely to receive or benefit from health and social care (Benzeval, 1995).
