NR 553 Week 3 Inequality, Power, and Privilege

NR 553 Week 3 Inequality, Power, and Privilege

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-553: Global Health

Prof. Name:

Date

Inequality, Power, and Privilege

“Today’s real borders are not between nations, but between powerful and powerless, free and fettered, privileged and humiliated. Today, no walls can separate humanitarian or human rights crises in one part of the world from national security crisis in another” (Markle, Fisher, & Smego, 2007).

Kofi Annan’s statement underscores the strong connection between social injustice, global inequalities, and health outcomes. Health disparities are not simply a result of biological or medical conditions but are deeply influenced by social, political, and economic systems that unevenly distribute resources and opportunities.

Identifying a Global Health Inequality

One of the most critical global health inequalities is access to maternal and child healthcare. Despite progress in medical science, many mothers and newborns in low-income nations continue to die from preventable causes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017), maternal mortality remains one of the clearest indicators of inequality, revealing systemic issues in healthcare infrastructure, availability of trained personnel, and distribution of financial resources.

Role of Power and Privilege

Power and privilege play a decisive role in determining who can access healthcare. Wealthier individuals and nations have better healthcare facilities, trained professionals, and advanced technology. In contrast, marginalized groups—often due to poverty, discrimination, or location—struggle even for basic care (Pickett & Wilkinson, 2015).

Income inequality particularly influences the quality and accessibility of care. Privileged populations benefit from private insurance, modern hospitals, and good nutrition, whereas underprivileged groups face severe barriers, leading to higher rates of disease and death (Powel, 2016).

Socioeconomic Determinants of Health Inequalities

Health inequalities stem from more than medical issues—they arise from social determinants of health such as income, education, gender, race, and geography. These determinants reinforce structural disadvantages that limit opportunities for well-being.

Determinant	Impact on Health
Income Inequality	Restricts access to hospitals, medication, and preventive care (Powel, 2016).
Education	Lower education correlates with poor health literacy and limited healthcare use.
Geography	Rural and remote areas experience shortages of clinics and skilled healthcare professionals.
Gender & Race	Discrimination reduces access to equitable healthcare, increasing mortality risk.
Basic Needs Access	Lack of food, clean water, and sanitation drives malnutrition and disease.

Daley et al. (2015) found that around 200 million children in developing nations like Bangladesh risk failing to reach their full potential because of malnutrition. Conversely, privileged populations with stable nutrition and safe environments enjoy better health and longevity.

Broader Impacts of Inequality

The consequences of socioeconomic disparities extend well beyond immediate illness. Williams, Priest, and Anderson (2016) note that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds face higher rates of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, mental health disorders, and substance abuse. These persistent inequalities contribute to an ongoing cycle of poor health and poverty.

Response to Peer

Naomi,

The WHO (2015) emphasizes that the neonatal period—the first 28 days of life—is the most critical for child survival. Unfortunately, many neonatal deaths are preventable with cost-effective interventions. Wardlaw, You, Hug, Amouzou, and Newby (2014) report that a substantial number of under-five deaths occur in regions such as South Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

A practical approach to this issue involves deploying frontline health workers, such as nurses, midwives, and community health workers (CHWs). Darmstadt et al. (2013) highlight that integrating these workers with health facilities provides essential support in counseling, antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal services, significantly reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths.

Peer and Professor Post

The WHO (2017) identifies maternal mortality as a core measure of global health inequality. Although maternal mortality rates decreased globally by 44% between 1990 and 2015, the United States remains an exception, showing stagnant or rising rates of maternal deaths (Maternal Health Task Force, n.d.).

Response to Professor and Peer

Dr. Fildes and Gwendolyn,

Preventable maternal deaths are closely tied to health inequities. In low-resource settings, these deaths often result from inadequate infrastructure, insufficient emergency obstetric care, and a lack of essential medical supplies. According to Khan et al. (2006), complications such as postpartum hemorrhage and pre-eclampsia could be prevented through timely medical interventions.

Several countries have demonstrated successful interventions to combat maternal mortality:

Country	Intervention	Outcome
Nepal	Collaborated with UNICEF to enhance birthing centers and train community health volunteers.	Maternal mortality dropped from 850 (1991) to 170 per 100,000 live births (2011) (WHO, 2015).
Rwanda	Implemented a mobile health (mHealth) system enabling real-time communication between CHWs and health facilities.	Achieved a 27% increase in facility-based births and improved maternal healthcare (UNICEF, 2013).

These examples emphasize that government commitment, international partnerships, and active community participation are essential to reducing global maternal health disparities.

References

Daley, K., Castleden, H., Jamieson, R., Furgal, C., & Ell, L. (2015). Water systems, sanitation, and public health risks in remote communities: Inuit resident perspectives from the Canadian Arctic. Social Science & Medicine, 135, 124–132.

Darmstadt, G. L., Marchant, T., Claeson, M., Brown, W., Morris, S., Donnay, F., & Schellenberg, J. (2013). A strategy for reducing maternal and newborn deaths by 2015 and beyond. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13(216). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-13-216

Khan, K. S., Wojdyla, D., Say, L., Gülmezoglu, A. M., & Van Look, P. A. (2006). WHO analysis of causes of maternal death: A systematic review. Lancet, 367(9516), 1066–1074.

Markle, W., Fisher, M., & Smego, R. A. (2007). Understanding global health. McGraw-Hill.

Maternal Health Task Force. (n.d.). Maternal mortality. Retrieved from https://www.mhtf.org

Pickett, K. E., & Wilkinson, R. G. (2015). Income inequality and health: A causal review. Social Science & Medicine, 128, 316–326.

Powel, A. (2016). The costs of inequality: Money = quality health care = longer life. Harvard Gazette. Retrieved from https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2016/02/money-quality-health-care-longer-life

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). (2013). Innovative approaches to maternal and newborn health: Case studies. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/health/files/Innovative_Approaches_MNH_CaseStudies-2013.pdf

NR 553 Week 3 Inequality, Power, and Privilege

Wardlaw, T., You, D., Hug, L., Amouzou, A., & Newby, H. (2014). UNICEF Report: Enormous progress in child survival but greater focus on newborns urgently needed. Reproductive Health, 11(82). https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-4755-11-82

Williams, D. R., Priest, N., & Anderson, N. B. (2016). Understanding associations among race, socioeconomic status, and health: Patterns and prospects. Health Psychology, 35(4), 407.

World Health Organization. (2015). MDG 4: Reduce child mortality. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/child_mortality/en/

World Health Organization. (2017). Trends in maternal mortality. Retrieved from https://www.who.int