A Brief Foray into Social Inclusion: What does it mean for professional health practice?

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to stimulate debate around the concept of ‘social inclusion’ in the context of working in health care. A perusal of the literature shows the terms social inclusion, social capital and social participation are often used synonymously giving rise to questions as to what these terms actually mean. That is, are they all one and same thing, or are they different concepts, and how do they relate in the professional practice arena? To ensure there are core understandings about these terms initially some definitions of social inclusion and exclusion are offered. Some social issues are also briefly presented to illustrate how social, inclusion or exclusion, policies and practices can impact on individuals, families and communities.