Health is largely determined by our social, economic, physical and cultural environment. Although, as we move further into the 21st century, we can see improvements for many people, inequalities in health and health outcomes still persist. The differences in life chances are dramatic and there is a direct correlation between low socio- economic status and poor health outcomes4. Health inequalities affect both women and babies. We know that women living in families where both partners are unemployed are up to seven times more likely to die than women from the more advantaged groups5, while babies born in the most deprived areas are up to six times more likely to die.
