Integrating health inequalities in social work learning and teaching

This guide outlines alternative approaches to integrating teaching about health inequalities into social work curricula at all levels. There are three main reasons for teaching about health inequalities. 1. Social work opposes unjust, discriminatory and oppressive social relations. The most profound markers of social inequalities are inequalities in health: how long people live, their chances of living with poor health and the impact that poor health has. 2. Health should be a core factor in every social work assessment and intervention plan. Poor or threatened physical and mental health is almost universal for service users and carers, because of their exposure to poverty and disadvantaged social conditions. These conditions act directly on health and increase the likelihood of health damaging behaviours such as smoking , poor nutrition, substance misuse and violence. 3. Social work can contribute to reducing health inequalities by working with service users to increase their material and social resources, access to information and support systems and to maximise their capacity to manage their health.