...look at how and why researchers may link medical information with other non-medical information, for example, where people live, their income and their education. An understanding of how these factors affect an individual’s health can help us to look beyond the healthcare system for ways to improve the health of New Zealanders. These factors are called the social determinants of health. This essay will take a closer look at some of these social determinants and how they can influence people’s health and well-being. It will also discuss research articles that provide examples of influences of social determinants of health relating to adults. Paragraph 2: SDH approach. Your discussion...
Words: 1015 - Pages: 5
...as education, income, and health, I will use, The Social Determinants of Health Model, to guide my future practice. According to, The WHO, “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” ("Social determinants of," 2013). In other words, in order to promote, maintain, or return a person to health, it is imperative to understand the circumstances of that person’s social and physical environment currently and historically. In addition, it is important to consider barriers to health imposed by community economics, worldview, and social policies in place. With these concepts in mind, I can individualize a care plan in partnership with the patient. By understanding the prevailing attitudes, social policies, and economics specific to the location of my future practice, I can also address conditions that create health disparities. For example, I might observe that I am seeing a large percentage of patients that smoke, or are obese, or have diabetes. To address these unhealthy habits on an individual basis, I will understand that people cannot be treated without understanding their personal and community environment. My goal in practice will be promoting optimum health in the individual, while understanding that eliminating barriers to health in the community is the key...
Words: 300 - Pages: 2
...In this essay I will be looking at the social and psychological determinants of health in the client group that I work with. This group is known as one of the most vulnerable group within the society and this is evident in its inequalities in health care. ‘Determinants of health’ is a term introduced in the1970s as part of a wider critique of public health research and policy. It was argued that too much research attention and too much health expenditure were being devoted to individuals and their illnesses and too little invested in populations and their health….. Public health, it was concluded, should be more concerned with social policies and social determinants than with health services and disease outcomes’ (Graham, 2004). The World Health Organisation (WHO) sees ‘inequalities in health care’ as the differences in health status or in the distribution of health determinants between different population groups. It can be the differences in mobility between elderly people and younger populations or differences in mortality rates between people from different social classes. Some inequalities in health are attributable to biological variations or free choice and others are attributable to the external environment and conditions mainly outside the control of the individuals concerned. The group of people I work with are people with ‘Learning disabilities’ (LD): “Learning disabilities is a state of arrested or incomplete development of the mind” (DH, 1995). A person with LD...
Words: 1543 - Pages: 7
...Population health is based on the interrelationships that exist between factors that include policy making, social factors, health services, individual behaviour, and biology and genetics. Interventions made on these factors determine the state of health condition. Federal, State, and local policies affect population health either positively or negatively. Tightening policies on the consumption of certain products like tobacco exert a positive impact on health by reducing the level of consumption of such products. Social factors such as a place of birth, work, play, and age determine an individual’s health status. A good distribution of such factors positively determines population health. Access to and quality of health services determines population health. Sufficient access and standardised quality health services exert a positive impact on population health and the reverse is the case (“Determinants of Health,” 2012). Individual behaviour determines population health. Drug and substance abuse, and poor eating habits results to poor heath condition whereas positive changes in individual behaviour positively determine health status (Truman, et al, 2011, p. 1). Biology and genetics determine population health, whereby aged individuals are prone to poor health as opposed to young population. Additionally, poor genes carried by parents are transferred to children resulting to poor health (“Determinants of Health,” 2012). America is one of the countries in which healthcare costs...
Words: 858 - Pages: 4
...the ways that health can be conceptualized by a society. What are the determinants of health in humans? What is the connection between how a society defines health and how it pursues health? Has increased access to technology changed that perception over the last decade? Discuss the connection between health policies, health determinants, and health. Abstract Health policies, health determinants and health are all categories that are intertwined with one another. As technology becomes more advanced within the health industry, society’s perception on healthcare may change for the better or for the worst. And with the new technology, new policies arise. Deliberate the ways that health can be conceptualized by a society. The World Health Organization makes a concept of health in a way that a patient should be cared for in all aspects of their well-being. This not only includes the physical concepts but also the social and psychological components of their health. What this means is that society should not only conceptualize health but also pursue health in all of the areas mentioned. There are many influences to our health whether it is our beliefs, the economy, social and cultural way of living, physical environment and the circumstances that we are dealt with. With that being said, health is the basic and dynamic force that affects the way we live our life. An example of factors that impact health positivity is:...
Words: 1446 - Pages: 6
...vital to “social and economic development and has a deep impact on people’s health and “the health benefits of education accrue at the individual level” (AHRQ, 2015, para.1). An individual action that occurs throughout their life impact their health and healthcare finances. Factors such as tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity and poor diet habits are just a few. These lifestyle behaviors contribute to the rising healthcare cost for an individual who is insured and for the...
Words: 687 - Pages: 3
...Extensive research and analysis in public health discourse have delved into the intricate interplay of various factors that impact an individual’s health. Health outcomes are influenced not only by access to healthcare services but also by a myriad of determinants operating at various levels within society, profoundly shaping outcomes. According to the World Health Organization (2019), health determinants such as social, economic, environmental, and behavioural elements all contribute to an individual’s well-being. Understanding these determinants is essential in formulating effective strategies aimed at promoting health equity and enhancing the overall health of the population. The social determinants of health significantly influence health...
Words: 254 - Pages: 2
...Working Conditions as a Determinant of Health This summary is primarily based on papers and presentations by Andrew Jackson, Senior Economist, Canadian Labour Congress, and Michael Polanyi Assistant Professor, Saskatchewan Population Health Research and Evaluation Unit, and Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina. The presentations were prepared for The Social Determinants of Health Across the Life-Span Conference, held in Toronto in November 2002. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Health Canada. Current Situation Over the 1980s and 1990s, there has been an ongoing restructuring of the labour market and of employment relationships. The intent of these changes has been to promote productivity and competitiveness, as opposed to promoting a worker-centred agenda of “good jobs” (Lowe, 2000). In Canada, only two-thirds of the employed workforce are in “standard” salaried jobs with no defined end date (mostly provided by large firms and the public sector). In this shrinking core job market, workers who have survived layoffs, privatization and contracting-out are generally working longer and harder. Employers have tried to increase profitability and competitiveness and to contain budgets by boosting productivity. This has been accomplished largely by increasing workloads. For example, in the health sector, fewer nurses, social workers and other health professionals must now deal...
Words: 3260 - Pages: 14
...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. (CDC). usually it is know that, the better the economic status of an individual, the better the individual’s health. Health status improves at each step up the income and social hierarchy. High income determines living conditions such as safe housing and ability to buy sufficient good food. The healthiest populations are those in societies which are prosperous and have an equitable distribution of wealth. Communicable disease chain involves agent host and the environment through which people get infected with diseases. The CDC explain the chain as: “More specifically, transmission occurs when the agent leaves its reservoir or host through a portal of exit, is conveyed by some mode of transmission, and enters through an appropriate portal of entry to infect a susceptible host.” This sequence constitutes the chain of infection (CDC). Nurses can work diligently to break any of this chain by health education and promotion. Nurses may also take steps like; isolate, quarantine and do prompt referral for adequate treatment. Example is isolating an individual with tuberculosis at the time the disease is communicable. The nurse can also quarantine or restrict movement of an individuals who have been exposed to the communicable...
Words: 268 - Pages: 2
...A higher socio-economic status results in access to better access to healthy food, alternative medicine options such as massage and counselling to deal with the psychological difficulties of the illness narrative and even the ability to travel and park at treatment facilities. Because women, Aboriginal people and Black Canadians all have a higher likelihood of living in poverty, this makes the social determinant of health not only the socio-economic standing but also one of gender and race. Hankivsky & Christoffersen (2008) identify that intersectionality has great potential to provide new knowledge that can more effectively guide actions toward eliminating health disparities across race and ethnicity but also across gender, sexual orientation, social class and socioeconomic status, and other critical dimensions of social...
Words: 882 - Pages: 4
...of the social determinants of health on accessibility to health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. INTRODUCTION 150 words Nurses have an extensive role in caring for the health and wellbeing of people and ensuring they have accessibility to health care. This paper will explore and provide evidence into how the social determinants of health, especially racism or racial discrimination impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders or Indigenous Australian people’s access to health care. Exploring the impact of social determinants of health on Indigenous Australians and the numerous poorer health outcomes experienced by this population group will...
Words: 1457 - Pages: 6
...“The social determinants of health are the circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work, and age, as well as 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” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). These factors contribute to the development of illness through their influence on health-promoting behaviors (CDC, 2014). For example, if a person lives in poverty, they will be less likely to maintain health seeking behaviors, putting them at greater risk for illness. The communicable disease chain includes a causative agent, vector or object, mode of transmission, and human (Maurer, & Smith, 2013). The causative agent is the organism that causes the disease, the vector or object is the carrier of the disease, the mode of transmission is how the disease is transferred from person to person, and the human is the host (Maurer, & Smith, 2013). Nurses can break the link within the communicable disease chain by educating their patients and their families. There are precautions that should be maintained for all communicable diseases. Nurses should use standard precautions and have a clear understanding of when to initiate airborne, droplet and contact precautions. The nurse must educate the patient and their families on the spread of their particular disease and the ways to prevent transmission. A good example would be for respiratory infections,...
Words: 306 - Pages: 2
...Health Policy Determinant Timeline Kwabena Aboagye HCS/550 June 02, 2014 John Dean Health Policy Determinant Timeline In 1950, most American receives their health coverage through the private insurance market, usually through their jobs. Many people buy insurance on their own in the individual market. Since coverage from private companies is the largest surge of insurance for Americans it is likely to be a central part of federal and state health reform efforts. Private health coverage is a mechanism for people to protect themselves from the potentially extreme financial costs of medical care if they become severely ill, and ensure that they have access to health care when they need it. Private health coverage products pool the risk of high health care costs across a large number of people, permitting them (or employers on their behalf) to pay a premium based on the average cost of medical care for the group of people. This risk-spreading function helps make the cost of health care reasonably affordable for most people. Medicare and Medicaid were previously known as Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). In 1965, the Social Security Act establishing both Medicare and Medicaid. The Social Security Administration (SSA) became responsible for the administration of Medicare and Social and Rehabilitation Service become responsible for the administration of Medicaid. In 1970, Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) are one of three types of major...
Words: 1261 - Pages: 6
...The main sources that lead to these health inequalities can be explained by factors in the social environment, which can initiate and sustain racial and class health disparities. These social conditions that encompass low occupation status, poor neighborhood residential conditions, and poor access and quality to health care are all important determinants of the health inequalities faced by certain racial and class groups, which often intertwine and serve as a proxy for one another (Halfmann, Lecture Notes; Kawachi 2005; Williams 2005). With this said, having a low occupation status can cause certain races and classes to have health inequalities. For example, people with a higher socioeconomic status have better jobs and, as a result, have...
Words: 667 - Pages: 3
...The purpose of this essay is to analyse the article ‘Government will fail to meet five out of six closing the gap targets’ (Brennan 2015) and identifies the different social determinants of health in the article provided. The article examines holistic implications on the Australian Indigenous community in comparison to non-indigenous communities. The world health organisation defines social health of determinants as factors that affect the individual social, economic, mental and political aspects of their lives among many other factors (World Health Organisation 2015). A large percentage of the social determinants listed by the World Health Organisation affect the indigenous community in Australia in many of their current circumstances. This...
Words: 1732 - Pages: 7
