Impact of Socioeconomic Status on Health and Education

What are the characteristics of the individuals in this case study?

The case study focuses on a family that is socio economically disadvantaged they come from a town with limited employment opportunities and they all have little to no education. Throughout the case study, it is evident that many of the individuals in the case study have been provided with less life opportunities and it has directly affected their health. As Carla’s parents passed, as she was young Carla was raised by her aunt who could not read or write and Carla herself struggled in school. Carla’s children also have limited education with only her son finishing year 12 by having a lack of education it decreases the individual’s quality of life as studies show evidence that

The social gradient is affected by social factors such as the ones present in the case study e.g. socio-economic status, geographical location and ability. The individuals come from the lower end of the spectrum of the social gradient as they have social or economic dilemmas that impede them. Carla being 54 years old may have influenced her ability to get employment in conjunction to this living in a small town that has limited employment opportunities further hinders her chances. Carla’s husband suffered a head injury, did not get help for it, and as a result negatively affected his mental health. All of the individuals in the case study are at a low socio economic status. The social gradient demonstrates how people lower on the socio-economic ladder become more susceptible to death and disease as they are lower on the social gradient this has negative repercussions on the health and wellbeing of all the individuals(Keleher and MacDougall, 2011). Early years of life are important as they are, the foundation for positive future development having a negative early childhood can have chronic effects. Carla struggled in school, her parents passed away when she was young this made her

By supporting the early years of life of an individual, a substantial effect on the outside community is achievable as they can increase their own quality of life and become a better contribution to society (Keleher and MacDougall, 2011). A plan such as The National Early Childhood Development Strategy would be effective the strategy aims to ensure children are born healthy, their environments allow for progress and children that are disadvantaged by social or economic factors are given equal life chances. Current economic plans exist to assist this strategy, such as funding for a family support program and a child support system. To further progress the strategy, steps until 2020 have are already mapped they aim to address the inequities and inequalities by supporting vulnerable children, promoting the importance of early life to parents and to improve childhood infrastructure. Overall the strategy attempts to minimize the disadvantages children will have by being born into unjust social and economic settings. The strategy on a downstream level requires parents to gain insight on how important early life is. On a midstream level, it requires the environment that an individual grows up in is adequate in providing the best possible education, transport and health system and services. On an upstream level, the