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Health Care Issues in the United States

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Explain how health is affected by behaviors, economics, and social structure.

Health is affected by everything that individuals do; such as smoking, eating and sleeping. Behavior which is unusually defined as how we carry our self or how we act plays a huge part in individuals health. When it comes to behaviors any economy status or social structure has it's negative and positive behaviors. Some people who come from lower social class structures are introduced to drugs, alcohol and abuse, that is all they know. That then causes health issues and addiction for those who can't get away or out of it. Even some individuals in a higher economic class have negative behaviors such as having parties where lots of alcohol and wine are served. I feel that with each social structure individuals are affected health wise in different ways. While some can afford to visit the doctor and have no issues others are unable to go to a doctor unless it is a clinic or free of charge. The better your status more than likely those individuals live healthier lives. Even religion and culture have affected health due to those individuals having their own beliefs or remedies. Different races and genders have specific behaviors in which they feel are right or carry out sometimes due to stereotypes. Stereotype such as all African Americans eat a lot of fried food such as chicken or pork chops. In some cases people follow what they see and hear and that's where a lot of behaviors come from regardless of the social or economic status. People affect there health just by sitting on the couch watching TV, drinking a soda eating potato chips and not exercising. Even the environment in which some work affect there health because of dust, heavy lifting or just long hours in general.
Describe the three stages of medical technology development As stated int the book Need, Demand and Utilization are the three stages of medical technology development. I feel that these are the best 3 stages or references to use because technology is based on a need, demand and utilization basis in general not just health care. “Need for health care services is defined as an interpretation of an individual's evaluated requirements for obtaining professional care through the health services system.” (pg 42) Technology for the health care system is only created based on the need of the patients and what physicians feel is necessary. The next stage or reference is the Demand, technology is in a huge demand due to chronic illness, infectious disease and cancer just to name a few. Chemotherapy, radiation or x-rays they were created based on a demand of some type. As defined in the book; “Demand is a function of an individual's actually seeking out, but not necessarily obtaining, health services, while it could be an assessment by a professional or a self initiated desire.” (pg 42) Utilization is the last stage or reference in the book which is basically when the technology is in use or used. So if the technology is created will it actually be used to help or cure the issue in question. Sometimes the demand is high but once the finished product is put out the demand is no longer high. With diseases and cancers becoming so rebellious it makes it harder to create or even think fast enough to be put out when the demand or need is crazy high.
Describe the major trends in population demographics over the past 80 years Despite the population growing every minute, hour and day. Fertility is a major trend in any population over the past 80 years. Fertility is defined by the measure of reproduction. (pg 47) Fertility is a major trend because it ultimately keeps the population growing and it is a key determinant. If we look back 80 years it was 1931 and fertility was not as a major growing trend like it is now. Now fertility is the topic of discussion at every health care meeting. The fact that women are also becoming mothers at younger ages such as 10-13 and 35-60 so it is a major trend. I met a lady that was 40 and had a 3 week old baby and there is always someone in the news with a miracle child or defying the doctors and having children. People in the workforce are a part of the major trends. We can use the baby boomers as an example, when all those men came home from war their wives all ended up pregnant at the same time. The largest conception ever and it was due to the workforce. So many people work and plan families around work. My grandmother had four daughters and was married twice but she always had at least two jobs. In some areas women don't work they stay home to care for the children, cook and clean while the man works. The workforce can be a determinant in the fertility trend as well. While times are constantly changing so are families and the mindset of individual's who may have considered a family before have changed their mind due to their career. It has been said that people with families such as small children are less likely hired because of all that comes with having small children such as school, daycare and doctor appointments. The reality is that if we put 1931 beside 2011 there would be no comparison. Mortality is a major trend due to life expectancy. Although life expectancy is different for different races, genders and ages it is important and there is no way to make it go away. Mortality is defined as the death rate which includes behaviors, social structure and economics in the qualifying population. As the life expectancy ages change from day to year mortality is still there with the statistics. Every aspect of one's life is put in several categories such as race, age, sex, occupation, birth place and birth year. The infant mortality is high due to lack of prenatal care and knowledge of being pregnant in some cases. I feel that no child should ever die because a lack of prenatal care which is basically the mothers fault besides things that can not be controlled such as women who can not carry children.
Describe the most important trends in morality over the past century When I think of morality I think of character or the quality of the person or individual. I think the morality of individuals in the past was a lot better than it is of most individuals today. People have come more about just themselves and no one else just selfish to be honest. In the past people cared about each other and the well-being of people that they didn't even know. Now people are dying or being hurt over parking spaces or looking at someone in a manner that one may not appreciate. The quality of a person was so much more and visible in the past than it is now.

References

Dictionary: Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition http://dictionary.reference.com Global Social Change Reports http://gsociology.icaap.org/report/demsum.html Introduction to Health Services
Williams & Torrens

Social and Economic Determinants of Health
http://www.health.state.mn.us/strategies/social.pdf

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