Social Determinants of Health Inequalities in New Zealand

Social Determinants of health play a significant role in determining health inequalities among New Zealanders. The social determinants of health as described by the World Health Organisation are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, age & live. These also include any other wider set forces or systems shaping the conditions of daily life (World Health Organisation,2017). This essay will outline how key social determinants of health such as unemployment, poverty and living conditions. Impact health inequalities among Maori in New Zealand.
Maori are the indigenous population of New Zealand and encompass only fifteen percent of New Zealand’s total population (Becares, Cormack & Harris,2013). In recent years there has been a decrease

Mentally, poverty like unemployment, can cause heightened levels of stress and depression among the Maori population. The effects on mental health from the lack of income can be vast, from slight bouts of depression to suicidal tendencies and addiction. These addictive behaviours can start small with cigarettes and alcohol. However, as a person’s life begins to spiral out of control, these addictions can grow into more serious and prolonged forms of substance abuse. These include the abuse of alcohol causing alcoholism and misuse of drugs. Even the simplest forms of addiction can be shown to be a major drain on a person’s income and can be a large factor in premature death (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). The number one form of addiction among Maori is cigarettes, as Maori are currently the number one consumer of cigarettes in New Zealand. A total of thirty three percent of Maori males and forty one percent of Maori female’s smoke. Comparing that to only fourteen percent of non-Maori males and seventeen percent of non-Maori females (Action on smoking and health,2015). Maori are three times as likely to die from lung cancer and other smoking related diseases as non-Maori. (Action on smoking in health,2015). As mentioned prior, poverty effects the rate in which addiction becomes more prevalent among a population. These addictions grow in relation to the mental health

Unemployment, poverty and the living conditions of the Maori population all play a significant role in the inequalities Maori face. As discussed unemployment is shown to be a large contributor to the lowered mortality rate of the Maori population, as well as effecting their mental health greatly. Unemployment can also act as a catalyst to other social determinants of health, such as poverty among the Maori population. The lack of income, can make it hard for families to provide the right food and recreational requirements for a healthy growing lifestyle. therefore, contributing greatly to the Maori populations growing obesity epidemic. Poverty also greatly influences the rate in which addiction spreads, as well the conditions in which Maori live. The lowered standards of living among Maori influences many prolonged health conditions, in addition to overcrowding which also helps to facilitate the rate of infection spreading among a household. Unfortunately, many social determinants of health impact the quality of life Maori have in New Zealand and this is shown by how vastly overrepresented they are when it comes to poor health