Urban Health Report Example

Urban Health Report Example Urban Health Report â€" Essay Example > Analysis of Health inequalities as an Urban Health Issue in London Borough of Kensington and ChelseaIntroductionAccording to Marmot (2010) health inequalities as experienced in London is at an increase. The Marmot review statistics established that Kensington and Chelsea registered the highest rate, claiming that in one ward a person is expected to live up to 88 years while in another within the same borough a person will live to only 72 years (Marmot, 2010). According to the World Health Organization (2009) “Health inequalities, are unfair disparities observed in health outcomes between individuals or groups of people”. The WHO Report (2009) further argues that health inequalities are associated with the social and economic gaps experienced by different people that may further compel them to indulge in specific behaviors and lifestyle choices that later place their health at risks as well as deny them the opportunity to overcome any health implications resulting from their ac tions. This essay examines the levels of health inequalities in London borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The essay will start by discussing the rationale behind health inequalities as an urban health issue in Kensington and Chelsea. Data from previous studies will be looked into and further discussed based on the social and economic determinants of health inequalities in London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Epidemiology data will be analyzed and used for comparison purposes. In the subsequent section, this essay will discuss the public health consequences and implications that are linked to, the population of London as a whole, the Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, on the individual and public health. The essay will further carry out an assessment on the strategies and interventions that have been put in place by the health officials as a means to fight health inequality. As part of the concluding remarks the essay will provide a summary on the main points as well as make a number of recommendations. Background and RationaleThe London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is an urban setting whose population is made up of a large number of the young people who are the working age and a slightly low number of children (Marmot, 2010). In addition to this, the borough of Kensington and Chelsea was ranked as the sixth borough with the highest population mobility rate. According to the statistics by the office of the national statistics, such a population structure influences the kind and range of services that residents in a borough can receive (Office of National Statistics, 2012). Furthermore, an increase in population mobility in any urban setting creates barriers on effective administration of public health services like screening and immunization. Marmot (2010) argues that despite the high rate of life expectancy in Kensington and Chelsea, there are still a number of cases on poor health. Poor health in this area is mostly characterized by poor living standards among people residing in areas that are mostly deprived which result to large inequalities (Marmot Review Team, 2010). Figure 1 Population Structure 2010According to the National Equality Panel (2010) poverty and deprivation are identified as the top most factors that deny a population of enough opportunities as well as resources therefore leading to health inequalities. During the 2010 census in London, Kensington and Chelsea came 103 as the most deprived local authority in the country. The majority of wards that were deprived in this borough were mostly in the northern part of Kensington and Chelsea.