The social environment and health

Abstract

Social and environmental conditions affect health. Rates of mortality and illness differ markedly between areas. A report from the London Health Observatory showed that the life expectancy of men living in the healthiest parts of the London Borough of Camden was ten years longer than that of men living in the least healthy parts of the same borough. Cities all over the world have variations in health by area according to socio-economic level to a greater or lesser extent. An important question is whether people living in a particular area are unhealthy because they are poor or whether there are particular characteristics of the area they live in that contribute to their poor health. Evidence suggests that neighbourhood characteristics such as social cohesion are crucial.