2020 Images of inequity where you are by

Geographical Inequalities: Transplantation in the USA

iaziogas_md — 2019-10-06 15:33:06 UTC

The United Network for Organ Sharing (organization for organ allocation) divides USA into 11 regions, and organs must be transplanted within the region of donation. Not all regions are equally in need. People travel to be listed in high organ supply regions to increase the possibility of undergoing transplantation.

Word count: 49

Ioannis Ziogas

Rations from the First World

2020-01-02 23:33:25 UTC

I took this photo when I was visiting the Melkadida refugee camp in the Somali region of Ethiopia. Do to funding shortages, the United Nations has been forced to decrease the rations of food. This has resulted in the people of Melkadida not receiving enough calories to sustain good health.

(50 words)

No place to wash your face

2020-10-05 10:57:52 UTC

Stazione Termini, Rome’s central station: a few steps away from the crowded mall there are a night shelter and a surgery for homeless and irregular immigrants. Nevertheless, many people who gravitate around Termini can’t get regular access to basic sanitation and hygiene facilities. In the picture: Milko, the street barber.

Francesca Colangelo
Word count: 50 words.

(“Milko, barbiere di strada” by zak is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Cheap foods can cost a life

amotee — 2020-10-05 11:21:12 UTC

High consumption of unhealthy street foods is very common in Mauritius. Cheap, easily accessible and tasty, Mauritians would rather opt for the street foods compared to buying healthier options which is more expensive. This explains the low consumption of fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods.

Word count: 45 words
Photo credit: Adriana, February 20, 2012, Living slow in Mauritius, Mouth to Mouth. Available at: https://mouthtomouthfood.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/living-slow-in-mauritius/ (Accessed 05 October 2020).

Drug-Related Deaths in the North East of Scotland

2020-10-05 13:55:05 UTC

In 2019, there were 71 reported drug-related deaths in Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire. These are the highest reported drug-related deaths in Scotland; higher than Lanarkshire and Glasgow. The Scottish government have come under scrutiny for the use of the amphetamine ‘Mephedrone’ as a medication for drug addiction, without considering rehabilitation.

Campbell Robertson

Word Count: 50

Photo Credit: Caroline Brodie, November 10, 2015, Drug-related deaths soar in Aberdeen to highest ever levels, The Press and Journal. Available at: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/746921/drug-related-deaths-soar-in-aberdeen-to-highest-ever-levels/ (Retrieved 05 October 2020)

Edinburgh's Invisible Inequity

EmilyKAdams — 2020-10-05 14:32:56 UTC

Edinburgh is one of the UK’ most affluent cities, with household income 9% above the Scottish average. However 22% of households have incomes below the poverty threshold, perpetuating a cycle of poor health almost exclusively among this group including female life expectancy being 22.2 years lower in deprived areas.

Words: 49

Image supplied by unsplash

Knife crime has risen in London, especially in lower-income areas, in particular with young males. People begin to carry knives because they feel unsafe due to various factors such as gangs, illegal drug operations, others carrying knives. Photo: an Operation Shutdown protest, who demand government action to address knife violence. Word Count: 50

2020-10-05 14:42:53 UTC

Information and photo from:
Umunna, C., 2019. Opinion: What London’S Young People Told Me About Stopping The Knife Crime Epidemic. [online] Independent.co.uk. Available at: [Accessed 5 October 2020].

Jasmin Rostron

High Unemployment Hampering Improvements in the Health Status of Caribbean Nationals

2020-10-05 16:23:41 UTC

A 2018 United Nations' International Labor Organization report showed that unemployment in the Caribbean region decreased in 2018 after a steady increase in figures for three consecutive years. The relationship between unemployment and poor health has been well documented and the impact of unemployment on health well known. Lack of an income means individuals cannot afford to live healthy lifestyles comprised of well- balanced diets and physical activity, thus increasing their risk of developing both communicable and non-communicable diseases, along with mental illnesses.

Nadege Atkins
Word count:84
INews Guyana (2020) ILO Says Unemployment In The Caribbean Dipped Slightly In 2018. Available at: https://www.inewsguyana.com/ilo-says-unemployment-in-the-caribbean-dipped-slightly-in-2018 (Accessed 5 October 2020).
Unctad.org. (2020). Available at: https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/wir2018_en.pdfn (Accessed 5 October 2020).

Where the Opioid Crisis Thrives

2020-10-05 17:44:02 UTC

Richards, E. (2017) The Addicts Next Door. Available at: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/05/the-addicts-next-door

Factors that fuel the opioid crisis in the US become obvious when you look at many of the communities where its hold is the strongest.

Marta Rowh

Lack of Affordable Housing in Vancouver

2020-10-05 21:28:03 UTC

According to the 2019 Global Living Report, Vancouver ranks as the 4th most expensive housing market in the world. People who cannot afford the high cost of rent are forced into unhealthy living conditions in poor communities like the Downtown Eastside or are have to live on the streets.

Braden Hale
Word Count: 49

("2020 - Vancouver - DTES - 3 of 3" by Ted McGrath is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 https://flic.kr/p/2iYX1iN)

Racism, Poverty, and Neglect after Hurricane Laura

tjcurry — 2020-10-05 21:51:18 UTC

Lake Charles, Louisiana was hit by a category 4 hurricane on August 29th, 2020. This hurricane was rapidly energized by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and destroyed much of the coastal cities in Southeast Louisiana. The combination of regional poverty, racism, and the legacy of segregation has made recovery efforts in the city slow particularly for residents in the Northern parts of the city. Lake Charles remains largely segregated with more affluent housing in its southern neighborhoods. Black people are isolated by railroad tracks and commercial industries on the north side of the city. These areas lack emergency health facilities, grocery stores, and safety. After Laura, many Black residents remain without lights, internet, and safe housing. This exacerbates pre-existing health conditions and stress in the aftermath of this disaster.

Slums in Antigua, with poor waste removal

christa_roberts — 2020-10-05 23:19:38 UTC

In Antigua, there are a few villages where squatters can be found who have made homes of any available material. These homes are unsafe in an island prone to hurricanes, they do not adhere to building codes. Unfortunately the residents cannot afford proper housing. It is not uncommon to see a few residents who still have outdoor latrines as well as litter and dilapidated structures.
- Christa Roberts

Appalachian Mountains Dirty Water Crisis

2020-10-06 00:32:35 UTC

Deprived communities in The Appalachian Mountains are plagued by dirty water from broken water lines. Residents are reluctant to use tap water to bathe, drink, cook or clean produce. The dirty water directly affects health when consumed and discourages residents from cooking; it incentivizes them to eat pre-packed unhealthy meals. It also clogs heating systems and leaves residents without heating in winter.

-Sarah Worsley

("Polluted water from different sources - all related to coal mining pollution in Appalachia#OurWaterOurFuture" by iLoveMountains.org is licensed under CC BY 2.0 )

Low birth weight in Sri Lanka - A health inequity

udanisdesilva — 2020-10-06 03:06:34 UTC

Although Sri Lanka has experienced significant decreases in child mortality, there has been minimal progress in decreasing low birth weight (LBW), a significant health indicator. A study by Abeywickrama et al. found a socioeconomic gradient associated with the risk of LBW, and postulated that this may be due to genetic risks among marginalised communities in Sri Lanka. The finding that LBW is associated with poorer communities in Sri Lanka is a vivid example of the health inequities in the country.
Reference
Abeywickrama, G., Padmadas, S. and Hinde, A. (2020) 'Social inequalities in low birthweight outcomes in Sri Lanka: evidence from the Demographic and Health Survey 2016', BMJ Open, 10(5). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037223

Poor Living conditions in Kenyan slums

2020-10-06 05:20:10 UTC

Kibera is the second largest slum in Africa and is characterized by a multitude of problems including poor housing (shacks), lack of sanitation services, overcrowding, insecurity etc. About 50% of the workforce are said to work in the informal sector while the other 50% are predominantly unemployed. Rural to urban migration has further contributed to the problem. Low skilled and often poorly educated rural residents who migrate to the capital of Nairobi in search of better opportunities usually end up seeking 'affordable' but poor quality housing in the slums.
- Mercy Wanalo

Kibera Facts & Information available at: https://www.kibera.org.uk/facts-info/

"Kibera - Nairobi" by leighrowan is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Accident of Birth

2020-10-06 08:33:04 UTC

I went to school in an area which suffers from high levels of unemployment, drugs and gang violence. It is in the 10% most deprived areas in Scotland. I was lucky to be born into a stable middle class home where both my parents were employed and lived in a village 4 miles away which is in the 6th decile.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/exclusive-notorious-v-sign-ned-jamie-1030461

Inequity for Canada's Indigenous Population

sarahsjhn — 2020-10-06 16:30:02 UTC

Just last week we were asked to discuss health issues that are present in the news/media where we are. Here in Canada the past few weeks have been consumed with discussions of racism embedded in our medical systems that lead to inequity in quality of care and access. This photo below is from one of many protests for Joyce Echaquan, an Indigenous woman from Quebec who died in hospital after staff ignored her complaints of pain and used racial slurs. This event has prompted a deeper look into Canada's medical training and a call for all Canadian medical schools to have mandatory courses on Indigenous health issues.
-Sarah Nelson

Demers, Ivanoh. “Woman Holds Protest Sign Directed at Quebec Government,” Radio-Canada, 5 Oct. 2020, www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/cultural-safety-training-joyce-echaquan-1.5748491. Accessed 6 Oct. 2020.

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Overdose continues to plague British Columbia, with a large concentration of cases in the Downtown Eastside.

sarahkorp — 2020-10-06 17:08:59 UTC

The Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, Canada, is unfortunately known for its increasing homeless population. This neighbourhood is plagued with mental health issues and drug addiction. These disparities continue to worsen, with 177 overdose deaths recorded in British Columbia in the month of June, 2020 alone.
- Sarah Korpach

https://www.vancourier.com/opinion/a-prescription-for-improving-life-in-the-downtown-eastside-1.24013715

Homeless population in Oregon, United States

2020-10-06 22:24:16 UTC

If you come to Portland, OR, you will notice immediately that the streets are lined with garbage and, oftentimes, a homeless person. A study from 2016 stated that Oregon has one of the highest rates of mental health issues among the homeless population. The Police in Portland have no policy for relocating homeless individuals. It has become quite the public health inequity.
-Gabriella Sheldon
62 words

Griffith, J., and Blair, D. (2019). Why Portland's Homeless Problem Is the Worst in the Nation, The Heritage Foundation. Available at: https://www.heritage.org/poverty-and-inequality/commentary/why-portlands-homeless-problem-the-worst-the-nation

Image "The Right2Dream Too Homeless Camp" by Benjamin Brink, The Oregonian is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Access to health resource in rural China

fanlemin97 — 2020-10-07 03:19:33 UTC

The poor rural counties face more financial difficulties than the rich ones. The imbalanced economic development results in differential health access and health status. Health professionals are not willing to work in poor areas, even though the government implemented a series of policies in the reform for recruiting and retaining health professionals in poor areas.

Word count: 55

Photo credit: Xinhua, January 01, 2012, Deepening the reform of health care, English Edition of Qiushi Journal. Available at: http://english.qstheory.cn/magazine/201201/201203/t20120331_149059.htm (Retrieved 07 October 2020)

Road to Prosperity? The I-35 Divide in Austin, TX

mdrust — 2020-10-07 04:08:29 UTC

A city plan in 1928 established a ‘negro district’ east of I-35. In the 1940s, the government backed mortgages but wouldn’t in these neighbourhoods, meaning residents were excluded from a massive wealth driver that would have intergenerational economic impacts. The segregationist divide still exists, with most minorities still living east of I-35.

- Meagan Rust

- Word count: 54

Source: Projects.statesman.com. 2018. Inheriting Inequality: Austin's Segregation And Gentrification. [online] Available at: [Accessed 7 October 2020].

Photo credit: “Austin Restricted” (Tretter, 2012) from U.S. Census data

*racial identifications: blue = White, purple = Black, brown = Hispanic/other

Inequalities in London

2020-10-07 07:41:17 UTC

This picture was linked to a study undertaken by Oxford University on the inequalities in London. It looked at life expectancy, education and pay. I found this picture of particular interest.
See below for full article.

- Sarah Harris

ref:
Henning, B and Dorling D, 2011, Inequalities in London, London Mapper, Trust for London, viewed 7/10/20,
http://london.worldmapper.org/analysis/inequality-in-london/#!prettyPhoto

Gentrification, street food, and health in NYC

2020-10-07 22:35:03 UTC

For many people working in NYC neighborhoods from which they have long been priced out (especially those, like construction workers, working outside or between sites), unhealthy but quick and inexpensive street food is breakfast, lunch, and sometimes dinner.

-Kristina Arakelyan

Source: Farris, E., 2019. Unnamed. Available at https://unsplash.com/photos/xt4Nj_S2iYs.

Uneven distribution of medical resources in Chines

plu9 — 2020-10-08 01:59:55 UTC

For people living in the vast rural areas of China, two major factors that affect their accessibility to medical resources are demographic and geographical uneven distribution of hospitals, medical human resources, equipment etc. In recent years situation got better because of the poverty alleviation policy.

Word counts: 45
（took by myself as an investigator ）

Impact of residential schools on mental health among the Canadian Aboriginal population

2020-10-08 02:19:40 UTC

Canadian residential schools, referred to as the ‘Canadian Holocaust’ by survivors, were in operation from the late 1800s to 1996. The negative health impacts from this dark period in Canadian history are widespread to this day, in Aboriginal communities across Canada. Indigenous children were removed from families and subjected to abusive treatment. This has led to discrepancies in mental health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

- Urmila Bhattacharyya

Photo Credit: Lenard Monkman, May 15, 2019, Proposed Indian day school settlement to leave out lawyer who filed lawsuit, CBC News, Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indian-day-school-settlement-objections-1.5137770 (Accessed 07 October 2020)

Dundee's drug challenge

2020-10-08 08:32:18 UTC

In 2018 the 5 year average drug death rate in Dundee was almost double the Scottish national average at 0.31%, one of the highest in Western Europe. Large investment in some areas such as the waterfront ‘sits in marked contrast to the endemic poverty, inequality and drug-related deaths’.
Word count: 48

- Frances Warner

Photo credit: Zach Davidson, Unsplash

Information from: Unnamed author (September 2020) 'Dundee's drug problem remains "a challenge" ' Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-54327963 (Accessed 08 October 2020)

Smoking and Disease.

louisabarlowsimson — 2020-10-08 10:40:05 UTC

Dewsbury and Batley had the highest proportion of people in areas ranked as the worst deprived 20%.
1 in 5 (20%) adults smoke and 1 in 10 (10%) 14-year olds smoke. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease and cancers, especially lung cancer and infant and children’s health are at the heart of disease.

Word count; 52.

https://www.northkirkleesccg.nhs.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity/north-kirklees-and-health-inequalities/
https://calderdaleandkirklees999callforthenhs.wordpress.com/2019/05/20/are-kirklees-councils-level-2-community-smoking-cessation-services-as-good-as-the-old-specialist-stop-smoking-service/

Irish Travelers

astenson2 — 2020-10-08 13:08:36 UTC

Irish Travellers are an indigenous group. They have been a part of Irish society for centuries. It is well documented that travellers are particularly disadvantaged in terms of health status. This was reviewed in the following study – ‘All Ireland Traveller Health Study (2010)’ (link attached with picture).

Findings from this study were outlined on the HSE website, with some of the main points being:

Traveller women live on average 11.5 years less than women in the general population;
Traveller men live on average 15 years less
the number of deaths among Traveller infants is estimated at 14.1 for every 1,000 live births compared to 3.9 for every 1,000 live births among the general population.

https://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/AITHS_SUMMARY.pdf

Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

"Stick to football"

y2gjs5n69n — 2020-10-08 16:08:53 UTC

Growing up, Marcus Rashford's mother couldn't pay for three meals a day for her children. They relied on free school meals and breakfast clubs. This situation is the same for thousands of children in the UK's cities. Going to school hungry affects learning, nutritional intake, and development.
Rashford has stepped in with this support gradually disappearing - most notably with the school meals during lockdown. This photo is with foodbank donations for poor communities in Manchester.
His efforts have not been universally celebrated (though the government quickly realised not to take on someone a lot more popular than they are) and some on social media have objected. Sometimes conservatives don't like it when a rich person can remember what it was like to be poor and disadvantaged.
Not often I complement a Man U player.
Photo:

Foodbanks in Glasgow struggling to keep doors open

2020-10-08 19:33:12 UTC

Glasgow, the fact the city needs food banks is bad enough - but here we have this food bank that is struggling to keep its doors open. One of the busiest in the city. Image taken from (accessed 8th October) https://theglasgowsloth.com/food-banks-in-glasgow-struggling-to-stay-afloat/

Sarah Jane Walls

The Glasgow Effect

2020-10-09 10:11:40 UTC

The image below shows the difference in life expectancy as you go from an area of low deprivation to an area of high deprivation, around a 15 minute train journey. A result of a post-industrialised town with high unemployment.

Jennifer Eadie

Photo credit: Measuring Health Inequalities. Available at: http://www.healthscotland.scot/health-inequalities/measuring-health-inequalities (Accessed 06 October 2020).

Disability and Unemployment in the U.S.

2020-10-09 15:52:59 UTC

For people with disabilities, employment boosts living standards, hope and dignity. However, even in 2019, the US economy was approaching full employment and every minority groups were able to benefit from the strong economy. The employment-to-population ratio for persons with disabilities was strikingly low at 32.2%, compared to 79.9% for those without.

Ada Chen

Flint Water Crisis

2020-10-11 13:22:10 UTC

Flint is a city that has not had access to clean water since 2014. The city wanted to save money by switching water supplies systems. The water system was contaminated with lead. This lead contamination had many health effects. The image below shows water coming out of pipes.

-Ahmad Hammad
Word Count:48

Photo Credit-

Flint's Water Crisis Explained in 3 GIFs

Available at: https://time.com/4191864/flint-water-crisis-lead-contaminated-michigan/
(Accessed 11 October 2020)

Food Insecurity in Canadian Remote Communities

2021-10-06 04:42:16 UTC

Food insecurity is a serious public health issue for aboriginal people living in remote communities in Canada. The cost of transportation to remote communities has been identified as the main contributing factor. This results in higher prices of nutritious foods, making these inaccessible to most of these families.

Reading C, Wien F (2009), Health Inequalities and Social Determinants of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health. Available at: https://www.ccnsa-nccah.ca/docs/determinants/RPT-HealthInequalities-Reading-Wien-EN.pdf.

Laura Idarraga

Word Count: 48

Ecomomic barrieres to health care in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2021-10-10 18:40:49 UTC

Health expenditure in Bosnia in 2018 was 528 USD per person of which 69% was governmental spending and 29% out-of-pocket spending. This is a substantially higher level of out-of-pocket-expenditure than the world mean of 18,1 %. (IHME, 2021) In a survey by UN Women, 92% of the respondents had a health insurance and those that did not were more likely to be between 18-34 and unemployed, making these groups especially vulnerable. (Haarr, 2021) This might lead to inequities in health along economic lines with health care access being limited to poor people due to economic reasons.

IHME, 2021. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Country Profiles, Bosnia and Herzegovina. [Online]
Available at: http://www.healthdata.org/bosnia-and-herzegovina
[Accessed 5 October 2021].

Haarr, R., 2021. Rapid Gender Assessment of COVID-19 in Bosnia and herzegovina, Sarajevo: UN WOMEN Countryoffice Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Anna-Clara Ivarsson