...Course: Lecturer: Date: The social determinants of health are the living and the working conditions which influence people’s health. Therefore our health is also affected in part by the social and economic opportunities available to us. Discussed below are the identified social factors affecting health in our society. Stressful conditions making people to be anxious and worried damage ones health. Stressful circumstances make it hard to engage in physical activities or even practicing health eating habits since the body energy is focused on dealing with day to day challenges (Brunner & Marmot, 2006). Stress also leads to prolonged biological reactions which strains the physical body. Therefore, continuous stressing circumstances will result to weakening of the resistance to diseases of the body and interferes with the functioning of the hormonal and metabolic systems. According to Brunner & Marmot (2006), the improvement of health may only be achieved if living conditions are improved and therefore, focus must be placed on solving the source of the problems instead of dealing with the underlying symptoms. Another social factor affecting health is the distribution of income. This is because it is the level of incomes which shapes how people live. Low incomes results to social and material deprivation as the basic needs are a challenge to meet for the low income earners (Raphael, 2010). Food, clothing and shelter are the prerequisites of health and for the people with low...
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...Intellectual and emotional impoverished early years impair learning and social functioning over an individual’s entire life. Furthermore, influences such as distribution of economic and social resources result in the variation of health status in a community, among groups and individuals differently. This paper will further examine the critical factors affecting childhood development and the run-on issues that follow suit such as health deficits, juvenile delinquency, attachment issues and how community involvement and an increased sense of self-worth are potential protective factors for health. We then discuss how community immersion will increase standard of living and be a preventative and reconcile most health deficits that otherwise would...
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...Healthy People 2020 (2014) stated that determinants of health fall under several broad groups and their interrelationship determines the individual and population health. These determinants include: Policymaking, Social factors, Health services, Individual behavior, Biology and genetics. For a program to be more effective, Healthy People 2020 (2014) suggested that they focus on multiple determinants instead of just one of them, using tools like education, housing, transportation, agriculture and environment. This approach is utilized at the center to reach out to the seniors and the entire community and has proven successful so far. Some examples of social determinants as highlighted by Healthy People 2020 (2014) include: Availability of resources...
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...PAPERThe determinants of Indigenous employment outcomes: the importance of education and training B. Hunter No. 115/1996 ISSN 1036-1774 ISBN 0 7315 1789 XSERIES NOTE The Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) was established in March 1990 under an agreement between The Australian National University (ANU) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC). CAEPR operates as an independent research unit within the University's Faculty of Arts and is funded by ATSIC, the Commonwealth Department of Social Security and the ANU. CAEPR's principal objectives are to undertake research to: • investigate the stimulation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander economic development and issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and unemployment; • identify and analyse the factors affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the labour force; and • assist in the development of government strategies aimed at raising the level of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in the labour market. The Director of the Centre is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor of the ANU and receives assistance in formulating the Centre's research priorities from an Advisory Committee consisting of five senior academics nominated by the Vice-Chancellor and four representatives nominated by ATSIC, the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs and the Department of Social Security...
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...Nursing in 3D: Diversity, Disparities, and Social Determinants The Social Determinants of Health: It’s Time to Consider the Causes of the Causes Paula Braveman, MD, MPHa Laura Gottlieb, MD, MPHb ABSTRACT During the past two decades, the public health community’s attention has been drawn increasingly to the social determinants of health (SDH)—the factors apart from medical care that can be influenced by social policies and shape health in powerful ways. We use “medical care” rather than “health care” to refer to clinical services, to avoid potential confusion between “health” and “health care.” The World Health Organization’s Commission on the Social Determinants of Health has defined SDH as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age” and “the fundamental drivers of these conditions.” The term “social determinants” often evokes factors such as health-related features of neighborhoods (e.g., walkability, recreational areas, and accessibility of healthful foods), which can influence health-related behaviors. Evidence has accumulated, however, pointing to socioeconomic factors such as income, wealth, and education as the fundamental causes of a wide range of health outcomes. This article broadly reviews some of the knowledge accumulated to date that highlights the importance of social—and particularly socioeconomic— factors in shaping health, and plausible pathways and biological mechanisms that may explain their effects. We also discuss...
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...Disparities of healthcare in rural areas of the United States have been an enduring challenge resulting in some groups of individuals receiving less and lower quality healthcare than others and experiencing minimal health outcomes. Social determinants of health affect the outlook of mortality and morbidity rates, healthcare access, and behavioral risk factors. It is extremely important to understand how health disparities are affecting the overall health of individuals. Certain disparities are more harmful than others, so it is essential to research how to improve these circumstances and increase quality healthcare. Achieving health equality, eliminating health disparities, and improving the health of all Americans are overarching goals to...
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...R T H E R N T E R R I T O R Y D E PA R T M E N T O F H E A LT H Health Promotion Strategic Framework 2011 - 2015 www.healthynt.nt.gov.au NT Department of Health Health Promotion Strategic Framework 2011 - 2015 Background This framework provides a structure for describing the type of health promotion actions that are used across the Northern Territory. It enables a shared understanding of the actions that can be taken to improve health and wellbeing. It also provides guidance about embedding a health promotion approach into all planning processes, programs and service development across the NT. While this framework is intended to be used within the health sector, we strongly encourage other sectors and agencies outside of the health domain to use the framework. This framework should be used in conjunction with health promotion audit tools and other health promotion resources available in the NT, such as the Public Health Bush Books and the Quality Improvement Program Planning System (QIPPS). It is also designed to be used as a guide, together with other local, regional and national frameworks, policies, strategies and resources. Why Health Promotion? The World Health Organisation (WHO) acknowledges the growing evidence that health promotion and preventive health approaches are effective in improving overall health and wellbeing, reducing the burden of chronic disease and injury, addressing health inequities, facilitating the better use of resources and enhancing economic...
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...Current Health Status In July 2013, 40.8 million (2013) people in the United States were African American (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013). The Center for Disease and Prevention (CDC) reports that 14.6% of African-Americans are in fair or poor health, as compared with the national average. 48% of African Americans, suffer from a chronic illness that results in premature morbidity and mortality, as compared to 39% of the general population (Brandon & Proctor, 2010, p. 590). This population has a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. According to Health Statics of U.S. Adults, African Americans were more likely to have been diagnosed with diabetes compared to non-Hispanic white...
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...Bad Sugar This essay will discuss the health factors that I felt influenced the Tohono O’odham and Achimel O’odham (Pima) tribes in the documentary, “ Bad Sugar.” The health factors that I will be discussing are geographic challenges and socioeconomic factors. Geographic factors The Tohono O’odham and Achimel O’odham (Pima) tribes settled in Southwestern Arizona where the Gila River streamed through their land as a primary source of water for the tribe and their farmlands that provided them with natural unprocessed foods. The geographical conditions of the Tohono O’odham and Achimel O’odham (Pima) tribes seemed ideal at the time. They had access to The Gila River, ability to grow natural foods and plenty of land; but their location quickly...
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...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...
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...Hepatitis B Virus: Epidemiological and Social Implications Amy Berry Grand Canyon University Concepts in Community and Public Health NRS-427V Sandra White August 21, 2015 Hepatitis B Virus: Epidemiological and Social Implications The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is an infection that attacks the liver and is categorized as both acute and chronic. The geographic prevalence between five and ten percent is predominantly in African and East Asian countries and only a one percent occurrence in the United States. The global incidence of HBV is approximately two billion people worldwide and of those, 350 million have chronic liver dysfunctionality resulting in an increased mortality risk related to cirrhosis and hepatic neoplasms ("The World Health Organization," 2015). According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2013, acute cases of HBV totaled 3,050 and 31,763 chronic cases were reported in the United States and a it is estimated that a total of 140,000 patients are infected every year that are not reported or unknown, and of those, an upwards of 1,000 people will die of chronic liver disease resulting from HBV ("CDC," 2013). The introduction of the HBV vaccine in 1982 and the inoculation of infants has dramatically lowered the frequency of infection, however, certain subgroups such as hemodialysis patients, health care professionals, intravenous (IV) drug users, organ transplantation recipients and homosexual males are at higher risk and should be periodically tested...
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...Health Promotion Among Diverse Populations Marcia Maris Grand Canyon University NRS-429v November 14, 2015 The purpose of this paper is to discuss the health status of the American Indian/ Alaskan Native (AI/AN). A comparison and contrast of AI/ANs with the national average regarding the health status such as heart disease and strokes will be presented. Multifactorial barriers limiting health, and the overall factors affecting health within this population are identified. Current health status will be presented including health promotion and disparities among this US population. Primary, secondary, and tertiary health promotions will be discussed along with one approach to promoting health offered. According to the office of Management and Budget’s “American Indian or Alaskan Native” refers to one who has origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America, including Central America, and maintains ties and connections to a tribe or tribal community (United States Census Bureau, 2010). Results of the 2010 census revealed there were 5.2 million people or 1.7 percent of the population who were Native American/ Alaskan Native. Chronic diseases and risk factors among AI/AN groups remain high. When compared to white populations AI/ANs are more likely to have diabetes and high blood pressure, be obese, and smoke cigarettes ( Centers for Diseas Control, 2015). The death rates from heart disease is 20 percent greater and from strokes are 14...
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...Assessing Population Health Introduction: This essay is about assessing a community profile of Lewisham population. The health issue to be discussed is childhood obesity in Lewisham Borough. The essay will define population health, and give a brief overview of childhood obesity. It will give the rationale why the writer decided to write on this issue. The essay will describe the population, and explain briefly why it is important. It will explore the factors that influence this particular population including geographical location, neighbourhood, educational attainment, family members, peer groups, social economic factors and culture as well as ethnicity. It will critically discuss the health profile of the population group and exploring the factors that lie beneath the profile. More importantly, the essay will analyse the main factors that influence the contemporary health of the given population in relation the determinants of health of the population health as well as the indicators of the population's risk and morbidity rates. It will look at the health needs of the population and examine the external and internal factors that could influence their behaviours and choice. It will make conclusion and recommendations on how to improve this health issue and enable the writer to understand the subject in great depth. The primary reason why the writer has chosen to focus on childhood obesity is because she wants to meet the learning outcomes of the module in order...
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...Sociology of Health Author’s Name Institution’s Affiliation Sociology of Health The social perspective in sociology of health explains the society's view concerning health. It is a discipline that describes an illness using social factors present in daily activities of life. Sociologists show how wellness and disease, the treatment and explanation of illness production in a social organization can be understood differently from a medical perspective of nature, biology, and lifestyle in an attempt of explaining sickness (Bahar, 2013). It is a significant facet of interpreting biological information that shows the creation of health and disease in a political, social, and cultural environment. In describing various social phenomena, sociologists examine how social life impacts morbidity and mortality rates and how it alternatively influences the society. Medical sociology uses sociological theory to explain the relationship between social factors and health to define this issue and its systems (Amzat & Razum, 2014). Amzat and Razum (2014) demonstrate that it tends to separate nature from the community. It means that it illustrates how scientific knowledge mediates social relations. Moreover, medical sociology shows how the technical realm of medical practice is inconsistent with social processes in nature. It is a claim of understanding constructivism through an objective in natural science. Various studies identify the inconsistencies between current medical practice...
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...peripheral vascular disease and cognitive decline. The risk of cardiovascular events doubles for every 20/10mmHg rise in blood pressure above 115/70mmHg. Untreated HTN causes progressive renal and vascular damage, eventually leading to a treatment resistant state. Hypertension is usually diagnosed and treated in the community. As this is largely an asymptomatic disease, particularly in its initial stages, compliance with treatment regimens can be problematic. Successful treatment of HTN relies on the patient establishing an ongoing therapeutic relationship with a trusted and knowledgeable health professional (Casey, 2011). Tools to manage care, such as clinical pathways, practice guidelines, and best practices have increased as the health care insurance industry has put more pressure on health care providers to improve care and provide more cost-effective care. These tools offer health care providers the opportunity to determine the best approaches to clinical problems based on current research and expertise (Finkleman, 2011). Best Practices Best practices are those treatments, procedures, tests, therapies and interventions that have consistently shown, through research and evaluation, superior results, and are then used as benchmarks. Best practices, also called evidence-based practices, include four elements: clinical expertise, research evidence, patient history and assessment data, and patient values and preferences (Finkleman, 2011). Best practice in regard...
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