Social gradient or the socio-economic gradient in health
Health inequalities are often observed along a social gradient, which is a “stepwise or linear decrease in health that comes with decreasing social position” (Marmot 2004). This gradient exists in all countries, either rich or poor, and the pattern can be observed when looking at factors such as income, level of education, geographic region, gender, or ethnicity. This means that the more favourable your circumstances are, the better your chances of enjoying good health and a longer life.
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