The Influence Of Social Determinants Of Health

Another U.S. study found that low availability of emotional support and low social participation were associated with all-cause mortality.

Health as a whole is determined by the quality of life, as well as an individuals’ ability to create personal positive social and physical environments. These environments include homes, schools, workplaces and the community as a whole. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2003), the social determinants of health are conditions in which people live, work, and grow, where these factors are influenced by money, power and available resources. There are five main aspects of social determinants: economic stability, social/community health, general health, education, and the surrounding built environment, where each determinant refers to multiple key issues. These determinants commonly affect health, the functioning of people, their quality of life, as well as social, economic and physical risks. Examples of social determinants include:

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious killer worldwide. However, over 95% of TB deaths occur in developing countries (WHO). TB is found to be a curable disease when appropriate medications and treatment are taken. Using the biomedical system is not sufficient to eradicate TB because medical interventions will fail if social determinates aren’t taken into considerations. The biomedical system is a key component in diminishing TB because it allows for diagnosis and control. Social determinants of health play a huge role in shaping one’s health. Three main social determinants that acts as a barrier in curing and preventing TB are income, food insecurity and access to health care.

In order to understand illnesses and diseases, it is of most importance to recognise the main factors which are contributing to the individual’s health outcome. There needs to be a greater emphasis on recognizing and understanding the social determinants of health, through examining the sociology theories. Recognising the social theories and philosophies allows for understanding why and how health inequalities exist in order to implement effective intervention. By focusing on social determinants of health emphasis is placed on improving the overall health of communities and reducing the persisting health inequalities. The first episode of the television series Devils Dusts convincingly displays the vast range of ways in which social determinates of health including gender, class, indigenous background and workplace environment influence each of the main characters exposure to asbestos. An individuals exposure to asbestos has significant detrimental health consequences.

One of the main determinants of Health and Illness globally is poverty. Poverty and poor health worldwide are intricately linked. Health is a multifactor reality, and there are many elements which influence our wellbeing; food, water, shelter, clothing, education, etc. And what they all have in common is that poverty undermines access to all of these basic elements.

As we have coming to realize over the years, the Aboriginal people of our nation are one of the more inferior race and they continue to be today. Through analyzing the historical political impact on their health by also taking into account the social determinates of health. To do this, by discussing bills that have been passed by the Canadian government such as the Indian Act and the residential school system. Then looking at the effects it had then and still to today on their mental, physical and spiritual health then linking those factors to their social determinants of health.

Interestingly there is a large number of people that are not in the proper state of health. The purpose of using social determinants is to create the optimal social/physical environment that will contribute and allow individuals to enjoy a healthier lifestyle, and thus become healthier. ("Social Determinants of Health - Healthy People", n.d., p. 01) The Five key areas that are addressed in the social determinants of health are: Economic Stability, Education, Social and Community Context, Health and Health Care, and Neighborhood and Built Environment. Even though these five determinants of health are different, they are all oriented towards the common objective to better the environment and living conditions so people are empowered and supported in making healthier lifestyle choices and develop the habits that will support these choices. ("Social Determinants of Health - Healthy People", n.d., p. 3)

It is no secret that the lives of indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders have a greater disadvantage and therefore experience an extensive amount of health problems more than the non-Aboriginal & Torres strait Islander population in Australia. is a direct result of the lacking in the social determinants of health. Their suffering is considerably high due to their tormenting past grief and traumatic events, however in the present they continue to face acts of racism. This overall has created a negative effect on their health by causing mental and psychological illnesses further impacting their education, employment, etc.

The social determinants of health can be defined as social and economic conditions in a population that have different effects on the individual and groups levels on health status. They are factors that promote health in an individual`s working and living condition like wealth rather than individual factors like genetics. In this paper, social determinants approaching mental diseases such as depression and as a health issue are addressed. The social determinates that will be discussed is income inequality, discrimination and finally Chronic stress. Depression is timeframe of several weeks whereby an individual has a lot of unhappiness or low morale. In this period, that individual may commit suicide or cause a self-inflicted injury. From the determinant social perspective, this illness is seen to result from

What are social determinants of health? The social determinants of health are the circumstances in which people are born; grow up, live, work and age, and the systems put in place to deal with illness. These circumstances are in turn shaped by a wider set of forces: economics, social policies, and politics. (WHO).

The definition of social determinant of health defined as a condition one are born, live, work or grow in. These factors are shaped by the distribution of money, and resources at global, national, and local level. So with that I do believe that access to health care is a social determinant of health. Even with all the new advance technology and medication that make our lives healthier, or live a longer life, many women who do not receive healthcare because of their lack of education, employment, or other factors that lead them to be uninsured. President Obama new Affordable Care Act will help the uninsured get insurance. The only down fall from the Affordable Care Act is that it will take between now until 2020 to take full effect. With no

My definition of social determinants are the aspects of life that we as individuals often have no control over including where we are born and our upbringing which affects our controllable choices later in life such as living conditions, aging and our work environments ("About social determinants of health", n.d.). It’s not till I really consider this definition my understanding stays neutral but my perception begins to realise how these determinants encompass and affect every aspect of your life with regards to access to resources including transport to and from work or health care or, growing up in Brisbane, affluent areas had beautiful fresh produce unlike low socioeconomic areas. An interesting analogy when you consider it’s multifaceted,

Programs outside of health and public health sectors influence the social determinants of health. Often, policies and programs in various non-health sectors, such as education and agriculture, can intentionally or unintentionally impact population health (National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy, 2012). These programs and policies can be assessed for their impacts. Program evaluation is a “systematic way to improve and account for program actions involving methods that are useful, feasible, ethical, and accurate” (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, 1999). In regard to evaluating health promotion programs, this can involve analyzing programs for effectiveness and efficiency and their effects on the health outcomes of the target and vulnerable populations, and health inequities.

Health is also affected by social and community influences, living and working conditions and broad socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions. A clean and safe environment, adequate income, meaningful roles in society, good housing, population-based services and utilities, affordable nutritious food, education and social support within communities all

A communicable disease chain is the mechanism by which an infective agent or pathogen is transmitted. The chain requires an infective agent, a source of infection, a mode of transmission and a host. An example of an infective agent could be bacteria, a virus, fungus, protozoan or helminth. The source of infective agents can be transmission from host to host, an infected human or animal, insects, soil or livestock. The mode of transmission is how the infective agent is carried from host to host. Transmission can be by air, ingestion or physical contact. To complete a life cycle or to replicate, the infective agent requires a host.