On the methodological, theoretical and philosophical context of health inequalities research: a critique

被引:78
作者
Forbes, A [1 ]
Wainwright, SP [1 ]
机构
[1] Kings Coll London, Florence Nightingale Sch Nursing & Midwifery, Res Hlth & Social Care Sect, London SE1 8WA, England
关键词
health inequalities; psycho-social; social capital; social class; spatial dynamics;
D O I
10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00383-X
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
The integration of survey data with psycho-social theories is an important and emerging theme within the field of health inequalities research. This paper critically examines this approach arguing that the respective models of health inequality which these approaches promote, the related concepts of 'social cohesion' and 'social capital' suffer from serious methodological, theoretical and philosophical flaws. The critique draws particular attention to the limitations of survey-derived data and the dangers of using such data to develop complex social explanations for health inequalities. The paper discusses wider epistemological issues which emerge from the critique addressing the fundamental but neglected question of 'what is inequality'? The paper concludes by introducing a structure for questions regarding health inequalities emphasising the need for those question to be attached to real communities. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:801 / 816
页数:16
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