Post on 03-Feb-2023
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Komkrich Silathong (Jack) M00393087 (Resubmit: 21-3-14)
SSC4041 Applied Research Methods
Module Lecturer: Dr Alessio D’Angelo
Word count: 1,669
Topic: Analysis of the Statistical Relationship between
Ethnicity and Health Problems in the UK
Rationale for the Study
Health can also be affected by socioeconomic status,
living standards and racial and ethnic background. Therefore,
research conducted in poorer neighbourhoods highlighted the
relationship between health and ethnicity is interesting to
study (Ortiz & Zimmerman, 2013; Farmer & Ferraro, 2005; p.
191). There are several variable relating to this topic.
Firstly, Office of National Statistics (ONS) defined ethnicity
as a “collective identity, “a social construct specific to a
social and historical context” and is based on the assumption
that a collectivity has its roots in common ancestry,
heritage, religion, culture, nationality, language and a
territory” (Afkhami, 2012; p. 6). From Table 1, the ethnicity
was divided into 17 categories based on Census classification
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(ONS, 2014). According to Nazroo (1997), he argued that the
levels of health problems differ substantially across South
Asian populations and there is a need to focus on the specific
segments of the ethnic minority population”. Furthermore, Li
(2004; p. 24) explains that the individual census records can
illustrate inequalities in relation to ethnicity, e.g. impact
of ethnicity on health.
Further important variable is health problems mean
general health which is defined as a self-assessment of an
individual’s general state of health. People were asked to
access whether their health was very good, fair, bad or very
bad that leading to unjust and preventable inequalities in
health (ONS, 2014; Becares, 2013). This assessment is not
based on a person’s health over any specified period of time
(Census, 2011).
Research Questions
There is a research question that the researchers need to
explore “What is the kind of relationship between Ethnicity
and Health Problems.
Methodology
The report will focus on the ethnic populations living in
the UK that are hypothesized relating to their health
problems. This report will carry out quantitative research
through a crosstab analysis, because ethnicity nominal
variable and general health is ordinal are the measurement
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levels. In case of nominal variables which is defined as a
set of categories for grouping objects, events or population,
with no presumption about the order (i.e. ethincity and health
problems) (Blaikie, N. (2003). The categories must be
similar, mutually absolute and complete that can be allocated
to one category, but the ordinal variable can also order the
group such as general health (Ibid). Therefore, the 2011
Census designed two measures of health (i.e. limiting long-
term illness, and general self-assessed health (Becares, 2013;
ONS, 2014). ONS (Ibid) identified to measure by asking the
question about the day-to-day activities how they were limited
by their health problems or age. Moreover, General self-
assessed health was measured by asking about their health
status in general with the alternative answer concerning with
the level of health level (i.e. ‘Very good’, ‘Good’, ‘Fair’
‘Bad’, or ‘Very Bad’) (Blaiskie, 2003; ONS, 2014).
This research will use the 2011 Census of the UK Office,
anonymised and protected for 100 years, for National
Statistics (ONS) which is most accurate estimate possible for
the population and the largest maker of official statistics in
the UK relating several topics, such as population, demography
and migration, the labor market (e.g. employment, unemployment
and earnings), and other social statistics (D’ Angelo, 2013;
ONS, 2014).
Research Methods
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The datasets will focus on populations based on the 2011
Census for the UK. This source of information was the Office
of Population Censuses and Survey and the General Register
Office (Chapman & Wykes, 1996; p. 27).
ONS survey a large number of the Census information e.g.
employment; unemployment; economic inactivity; Ethnicity;
accommodation and health problems. (UK Data Archive, 2013;
Fairlie & Meyer, 1996).
ONS social surveys ask questions concerning with people’s
ethnicity and health problems (ONS, 2014). This information is
used to see if different types of people have different
experiences in life (for instance, in employment and health)
(Ibid). The questionnaire items relate to descriptions of
ancestry and ethnic affiliation, lifestyle, experience of
racism, and social and community involvement (Nazroo &
Karlsen, 2001). Ethnic minority groups in the UK may
generally be deemed both disadvantaged and powerless (Gidden,
1993).
Population
The main population base for outputs from the 2011 Census
is the normal resident population as at census day 27 March
2011. Albeit, the population will include non-UK short-period
resident, this population can be analyzed separately and is
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not included in the main outputs from the 2011 Census. All of
them, unless specified, are created utilizing normal resident
of the UK only (ONS, 2014).
For 2011 Census objectives, a normal resident of the UK
is anyone who, on census day, was in the country and had
stayed or intended to live in the UK for a term of 12 months
or more, or had a permanent UK address and was outside country
and intended to be outside the country for less than 12 months
(Ibid).
The population derives from the ethnic group living in
the UK, totalling 60,938,955 persons (ONS, 2014).
Findings
The numbers of the population in each ethnic group in the
UK, as recorded in the 2011 Census, are illustrated in Table
1. General, White British at 45.1 million (80.5 per cent)
population was the majority groups in 2011, followed by the
Other White with 2.5 million population (4.4 per cent) (Figure
1; ONS, 2014). On the other hand, Other ethnic group was the
lowest group (1 per cent) (Table 1). The most ethnic
population in 2011 has increased from the population in 2001
(Table 1). On the other hand, White British and White Irish
population reduced between 2001 and 2011.
Table 1: Ethnic groups 2001 and 2011, England and Wales,
England and Wales1
6United Kingdom
Percentages
2001 2011
White
Irish 1.2 0.9Gypsy or
Irish
travelle
r2 0 0.1Other
White 2.6 4.4
Mixed/multiple ethnic
groups
White
and
Black
Caribbea
n 0.5 0.8White
and
Asian 0.4 0.6White
and
Black
African 0.2 0.3Other
Mixed 0.3 0.5
Asian/Asian British
Indian 2.0 2.5Pakistan
i 1.4 2.0Banglade
shi 0.5 0.8Chinese1 0.4 0.7Other
Asian1
0.5 1.5
United Kingdom (Cont.)
Percentages
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Note:
1. Comparability issues exist between these ethnic groups for
the 2001 and 2011 Census (this excludes White British about
80.5 per cent).
2. No comparable data exists for these ethnic groups in the
2001 Census.
Source: Census, Office for National Statistics
According to table 1 and figure 1 also shows all ethnic
minority groups in this figure that also includes the White
British (80.5 per cent).
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Figure 1: Ethnic minority groups, England and Wales, 20111
Note: 1. This chart includes White British (80.5 per cent)
Source: Census 2011, Office for National Statistics
This research applies data 2011 Census on limiting long-
term illness to clarify broad differences in health between
seventeen ethnic groups in England and Wales (Table 1;
Becares, 2013). Improvements in ethnic minority groups’ social
status and their living conditions of disadvantaged groups can
possibly be decreased the Ethnic health inequalities.
While, Figure 2 illustrates men from the White Gypsy or
Irish Traveler, Mixed, White-Black Caribbean, White Irish and
Black Caribbean groups had better levels of limiting long-term
illness than White British men. Unfortunately, the White Gysy
or Irish Traveler have health problems twice the White British
men’s level. On the other hand, the rates of the ethnic group
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of Bangladeshi, Arab and Pakistani have poorer health’s rates
than the White British men.
Figure 2: Ethnic inequalities in health for men in 2011 Age-
standardised ratios of Limiting Long-Term Illness for ethnic
minority groups, compared to the White Britist group, males
2011
Note: Adapted from Table 2 (Annex A)
Source: Census 2011, Office for National Statistics; Becares,
2013
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From Figure 2 and 3, inequalities are obviously
illustrated in the health of the White Gypsy or Irish Traveler
groups which both of men and women have nearly twice the
levels of limiting long-term illness of the White British. On
the other hand, both of Chinese men and women group have the
best health among all groups, approximately lower than half
the White illness levels. White British men had better health
levels than White British women (Figure 2, 3).
Figure 3: Ethnic inequalities in health for women in 2011 Age-
standardised ratios of Limiting Long-Term Illness for ethnic
minority groups, compared to the White Britist group, females
2011
11
Note: Adapted from Table 2 (Annex A)
Source: Census 2011, Office for National Statistics; Becares,
2013
Discussion
According to the first question “what is the kind of
relationship between Ethnicity and Health Problems?”, the
tables and figures can show that there are the relationships
between them. The poor health may be caused by several
factors, including biological determinants (age, sex,
hereditary factors), and broader social determinants such as
education, social position, income, occupations, working
conditions, housing tenure, local environment, and experiences
of ethnic discrimination (Jones, 1993, Becares, 2013).
Accordance with Nazroo (2001), ethnic minorities were
contributed an higher rate of disease (e.g. limiting
longstanding illness, heart disease, diabetes, and
hypertension) than White citizens. Furthermore, Becares
(2013) argues that the social variables of health are
unequally delivered across minority ethnic groups. Social
differences between populations have recognized implications
for self-assessed health, which are reflected in these results
(Browning et al. ,2003).
From Table 1 including figure 1 and 2, ethnic minority
groups have very various levels of illness health. The
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biological determinants in forming health across various
categories in society are obviously documented, including,
among educates comparing health of all ethnic groups (Acheson,
1998; Nazroo, 2003).
From Figure 1 and 2, the most of ethnic minority
populations, both genders, noticeably have poorer health
problems than the White British population.
There are also important variations in the socioeconomic
situations of population from various ethnic minority groups
such as the poorer people more like to live in poor quality
housing (i.e. Without central heating, being overcrowded, and
having lower access to consumer durables) (Evandrou, 2000).
This leads to their quality of life and health problems.
Conclusion
The social determinants of health and biological
determinants are possibly brought about unfair and preventable
health inequalities. The accessible approach to solve this
problem is to start with the social determinants of health by
enhancing the health of the people of the UK, and decreasing
minority ethnic health inequalities (Becares, 2013). According
to Evandrou (2000; p. 27), ‘policies which deal with
deprivation and poverty may also administer to decrease of
health inequalities, as well as developing services which are
culturally competent and acceptable to different ethnic groups
remains a key priority’.
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From above reasons, there are the relationships between
the ethnicity and health problems because the social
determinant (i.e. ethnicity) was related to the ethnic heatlh
inqualities that have to address this factor. Nevertheless,
there is another factor (i.e. biological determinant) relating
to this problem, but it is so difficult to solve this problem.
However, the UK governments and policy-makers have to
consider such factors in designing appropriate public health
policies (Edmondson et al., 2011; Nicholson et al., 2008; Adda
et al, 2003, Harris et al., 2006).
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Annex
Annes A: Table 2: Ethnic inequalities in health for men and females in 2011 Age-standardised ratios of
Limiting Long-Term Illness for ethnic minority groups, compared to the White Britist group, males and
females 2011.Total
Age-specific rate
Expected illness from E&W rates expected Age standardised Excess
Crude rate 0-15
15-64 65+ 0-15 15-64 65+ illness
illnessratio
Rel toWB ill
arab 12% 3% 14% 66% 919
8,286
1,784
10,989
1.07 1.05 739
bangladeshi 14% 3% 16% 76% 2,229
17,720
4,367
24,317
1.23 1.20 5,537
black african 8% 2% 9% 54% 4,308
46,791
7,506
58,605
0.70 0.69 -17,535
black caribbean 19% 4% 14% 60% 1,483
29,834
25,167
56,485
1.07 1.04 3,711
black other 12% 3% 14% 59% 1,530
10,941
2,775
15,246
1.05 1.03 747
chinese 7% 2% 5% 47% 730
23,020
5,962
29,712
0.45 0.44 -16,247
indian 15% 2% 12% 68% 3,841
67,253
33,861
104,955
0.98 0.97 -1,639
mixed other 10% 3% 12% 56% 1,705
11,374
3,067
16,145
0.93 0.91 -1,100
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mixed white and asian 8% 3% 11% 51% 2,293
11,065
2,718
16,076
0.82 0.81 -2,837
mixed white and black african 8% 3% 12% 54%
1,169
5,517
960
7,647
0.90 0.88 -797
mixed white and black caribbean 11% 4% 13% 60%
2,705
15,499
3,787
21,991
1.04 1.02 787
other 14% 3% 14% 64% 976
14,970
5,429
21,376
1.04 1.02 865
other asian 10% 3% 9% 56% 2,669
42,433
11,743
56,845
0.75 0.73 -14,387
pakistani 15% 4% 17% 78% 5,283
46,030
13,487
64,800
1.30 1.27 19,312
white british 21% 3% 14% 56% 112,275
1,932,011
2,655,566
4,699,853
1.02 1.00 93,500
White Gypsy or Irish Traveller 25% 5% 30% 73%
263
2,460
982
3,704
1.97 1.93 3,596
white irish 27% 3% 15% 53% 429
22,623
52,568
75,620
1.01 0.99 409
white other 9% 2% 7% 52% 5,416
137,820
52,516
195,752
0.62 0.61 -74,663
All groups 3% 13% 56%
arab 12% 4% 12% 51% 1,573
11,921
2,352
15,846
0.98 0.95 -353
bangladeshi 11% 4% 12% 69% 3,626
17,918
4,436
25,980
0.99 0.96 -134
black african 7% 4% 7% 43% 0.59 -20,225
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6,904 39,923 5,344 52,171 0.61
black caribbean 17% 6% 13% 53% 2,423
23,298
19,150
44,870
1.05 1.02 2,419
black other 11% 5% 13% 52% 2,497
10,430
1,913
14,840
1.02 0.99 362
chinese 6% 2% 4% 39% 1,169
18,945
4,643
24,756
0.44 0.42 -13,938
indian 11% 3% 9% 53% 6,409
65,786
27,591
99,786
0.78 0.75 -22,056
mixed other 10% 5% 12% 49% 2,808
9,492
2,171
14,470
0.96 0.93 -644
mixed white and asian 8% 4% 10% 45% 3,797
11,080
2,286
17,163
0.83 0.80 -2,934
mixed white and black african 8% 4% 11% 49%
1,900
5,041
692
7,633
0.91 0.88 -717
mixed white and black caribbean 12% 6% 14% 55%
4,373
13,773
3,223
21,370
1.14 1.10 3,000
other 12% 4% 12% 52% 1,610
16,897
4,227
22,734
0.97 0.94 -763
other asian 9% 3% 9% 47% 4,498
36,535
8,726
49,760
0.74 0.72 -12,973
pakistani 12% 5% 12% 64% 8,676
45,297
12,844
66,817
1.03 1.00 1,845
white british 18% 5% 13% 50% 186,608
1,795,351
1,891,996
3,873,955
1.03 1.00 124,573
White Gypsy or Irish 25% 8% 30% 70% 1.99 3,644
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Traveller 430 2,197 846 3,473 2.05
white irish 25% 5% 16% 52% 714
21,165
35,077
56,957
1.11 1.08 6,315
white other 7% 3% 6% 46% 8,966
115,507
31,272
155,744
0.57 0.55 -67,421
All groups 5% 13% 50%
Note: 1) This table adapted from some the 2011 Census data on limiting long-term illness
Available from http:// www. ons. gov. uk/ ons/rel/ census/2011-census-analysis/ethnic-
variations-in-general-health-and-unpaid-care-provision/index.html Accessed 21 March 2014.
2) The table calculates crude illness rates, standardized illness rates and excess ill in
2011
3) Each ethnic minority group, males and females separately
4) On stadnardisation, it is always against the England and Wales age-specific rates.
5) On Excess ill, it is the excess of observed ill, over the expected ill – distributed
England and Wales age-specific rates
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6) The excess ill is displayed only when it is positive and the group’s SIR is more than
the White British group.
Source: Census 2011, Office for National Statistics; Becares, 2013
………………………………….