Health inequality: an introduction

There is unequivocal evidence from across Australia of entrenched patterns of socio-economic related health inequality. These patterns are seen in mortality, morbidity, health risk factors and access to preventive health services. Discussing the potential role of health promotion in addressing these health inequalities needs to be based on an agreed definition of health inequality and an understanding of the differences between health inequity and health inequality. This involves making value judgements on whether opportunities for health are fairly distributed. Health promotion practitioners need to be able to argue why they think health inequalities are important, have a clear understanding of what they think are the causes of health inequality and be informed on action that can be taken to reduce health inequality. The ever-increasing level of information on patterns of health inequality within Australian society are likely to place increased pressure on health promotion policymakers and practitioners to ensure that their actions reduce health inequality – or at least not contribute to widening health inequality. The way in which these issues are approached will be strongly influenced by our values, the values of the organisations in which we work and the wider community. This requires each of us to be proactive in articulating our values and beliefs and being open to them being challenged.