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Intersectionality, vulnerability and foot health inequity

  • The Smae Institute
Research Output: Contribution to journal Comment/debate

Open access

Sustainable Development Goals

  • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well

Abstract

Foot health and wellbeing in the UK are often overlooked in healthcare. Foot health outcomes are strongly interlinked to the social determinants of health, in that the way these determinants intersect can impact an individual's vulnerability to foot pain and disorders. In this commentary we explore some social determinants that hinder individuals from improving their foot health behaviour and ultimately reducing foot pain and foot disorder vulnerability. We focus on socioeconomic status, gender, disability, age, culture and ethnicity, and footwear quality; we also highlight the potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis on foot health inequities; rises in inflation have resulted in footcare becoming less affordable among vulnerable groups, like those with intellectual disabilities and chronic illness, older people, those living in rural and inner-city communities, and the ethnically and linguistically diverse population living in the UK. There is an urgent need to raise awareness of the social determinants of foot health, their intersectionality, and their impact on foot pain and disorder vulnerability. Despite the Black Report and both Marmot Reviews, little progress has been made in raising this awareness. It is recommended to widen the range of foot health interventions, by including it in GP consultations, developing cultural sensitivity within foot health services, creating more comprehensive educational foot health programmes, and developing a more sustainable footwear industry.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Comment/debate

Original language

English

Article number

73

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Foot and Ankle Research (Volume 16, Issue 1)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 20/07/2023
  • Published - 26/10/2023

Publication status

Published - 26/10/2023

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/626039
  • Scopus: 85174930300
  • PubMed: 37884971

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