This book provides a key to understanding the four most widely accepted theories of what lies behind inequality in healthcare: behavioural, psychosocial, material and life-course approaches. Provides a key to understanding the four most widely accepted theories of what lies behind inequality in healthcare: behavioural, psychosocial, material and life-course approaches. Carefully explains the methods most commonly employed by health inequality researchers. Makes more widely available the concepts and methods which can be applied to any area of study that seeks to take account of social and biological factors. Mel Bartley is a leading figure in the field and has an established international reputation.