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Ellen R. Meara, Seth Richards, and David M. Cutler
The Gap Gets Bigger: Changes In Mortality And Life Expectancy, By Education, 1981–2000
Health Affairs, March/April 2008; 27(2): 350-360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [Figures Only] [PDF] [Technical Appendix] [Reprints & Permissions]
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[Read Comment] Closing The Gap Should Be Getting Easier
Prajesh N. Chhanabhai   ( 11 March 2008 )

Closing The Gap Should Be Getting Easier 11 March 2008
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Prajesh N. Chhanabhai,
PhD Candidate, Health Informatics Group
University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

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Re: Closing The Gap Should Be Getting Easier

pchhanabhai{at}infoscience.otago.ac.nz Prajesh N. Chhanabhai

The article by Meara et al. hits the nail on the head as they bring out the obvious disparities that currently exist between the underprivileged populations and those who are more fortunate.

What is interesting to note as well is that this gap runs parallel to the existing digital divide. The current divide between underprivileged communities, which are more often than not an ethnic minority group, and the higher-class population is still growing at an exponential rate. This is because there is still a game of catch-up going on. But within a health care setting that has now become increasingly dependant on technology, this game of catch-up will never work. The gap will keep growing, as privileged populations keep getting the "better" end of the deal.

What needs to happen is these communities need to have a health care professional who is able to use and access the same levels of technology that their peers in higher-class communities are able to use. This technology can then be used as a tool to disseminate information to the communities. With the advent of Web 2.0 and more multimedia-based technology, the message that can be disseminated will be understood by communities more easily than just pure stats on how bad they are in comparison to better-off communities. They already know that they are in a worse-off situation; they need to know how they can get to access basic information that can help them improve their health status. A properly equipped health care professional within each community is one way to educate and inform the community on how to be more empowered in their own well-being.