Social inequalities of health and handicap. The example of the cerebral vascular attack

The social inequalities of health are observed in the field of illness and death. What about the inequalities with a handicap?. The studies and surveys that highlight the relationship between handicap and social health inequalities are cruelly lacking. It is for this reason that we tried to explore this relationship in the scope of a survey carried out in France on the social and family repercussions of a cerebral vascular attack. The method used, a significant national survey in France (1000 people questioned in 260 families where a stroke took place in the previous year), carried out in 2004/2005 taking into account the family repercussion of a cerebral vascular attack, we tried to highlight the differences and the social inequalities that exist as much in the frequency and the gravity of deficiencies due to a stroke, as in the effects produced on the family life, in particular to the spouse. This survey, conducted in the home, is made up of three questionnaires, one of which is the main one( particularly the spouse’s) takes into account all the aspects of family life and the social relationships whilst trying to highlight the repercussions following the stroke.
The results.
The results show the extent of the impact on the family, especially in the relationship of the couple.
On the whole, they confirm the assumption of social inequalities between social groups defined according to the income, the educational level and the profession, in particular with regards to the gravity of deficiencies, progress of rehabilitation, the quality of the financial responsibility, the standard of living and in several dimensions of social life (leisure and cultural activities).
However it is necessary to underline the difficulty in isolating the social inequalities which are expressed apart from the situation due to the stroke; inequalities which can be enhanced or which take on a particular character because of this accident.
Conclusion
We can hold on to the hypothesis that the stroke represents an event that can be considered as an indicator of the previous social state and relationship, bringing on in some way aggravating effects that can be as positive as they can be negative. Social health inequalities must be analyses whilst taking this hypothesis into account.