Poverty and health promotion in primary health care: professionals' perspectives

This paper examines the effectiveness of current strategies for health promotion in the UK in the light of knowledge about the links between health, illness and poverty. The implications of recent policies which target health promotion within primary health care (PHC) settings are examined. The results of an exploratory study undertaken during 1993/94 in a city in South West England are discussed. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to investigate the perceptions of a range of PHC professionals. Fifty-four interviews were carried out amongst staff in 16 PHC practices. This paper reports on professionals' views and practice in relation to promoting health in areas of poverty and with low-income clients. These findings are discussed in relation to the literature and the constraints on effective health promotion in PHC are explored particularly in relation to issues of poverty and deprivation.