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What are social determinants of health essay
Social determinants of health: What are they and how do they contribute to the development of disease
Thesis of Social Determinants of Health
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A person’s health along with the health of a community are influenced heavily by the social determinants of health. These determinants create a strong foundation for a healthy and proper development of a community (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2013). Further, a proper foundation will allow the children within the community to develop properly, which will foster their potential for intellectual and physical intelligence. This paper will explore the effects of healthy childhood development, personal health practices and coping skills, health services and income and social statuses with in the Maple Leaf neighbourhood. Further, this paper will explore how the above social determinants of health directly affect the students of St. Fidelis school. Lastly, this paper will explain how the rise in cavities within these children is an issue as well as approached to overcome this issue. Within this community the most significant social determinant of health is healthy childhood development. Healthy childhood development is key for this community because 16% of the neighbourhoods population is considered to be a child between the ages of 0-14 years (City of Toronto, 2011a). Healthy childhood development is influenced by other social determinants of health like housing, proper nutrition, and an adequate guardian income. Further, regulated childcare and education have a strong impact on childhood development (Bryant, Raphael, Schrecker, & Labonte, 2011). These conditions not only impact their immediate childhood health and development but the above determinants are the foundation for the childs future health as adult (Raphael, 2012). If the child is provided with adequate and safe housing, a nutritious food supply, and a pro... ... middle of paper ... ...an, P., Egerter, S., & Williams, D. R. (2011). The social determinants of health: coming of age. Annual review of public health, 32, 381-398. Bryant, T., Raphael, D., Schrecker, T., & Labonte, R. (2011). Canada: A land of missed opportunity for addressing the social determinants of health. Health Policy, 101(1), 44-58. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.08.022 Poverty Free Ontario. (2014). Status of poverty in Ontario. Retrieved from: http:// www.povertyfreeontario.ca/poverty-in-ontario/status-of-poverty-in-ontario/ Public Health Agency of Canada. (2013). What makes Canadians healthy or unhealthy. Retrieved from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ph-sp/determinants/determinants- eng.php#income Raphael, D. (2012). Educating the Canadian public about the social determinants of health: The time for local public health action is now. Global Health Promotion, 19(3), 54-59.
The potential impact of social determinants of health may not seem obvious from the onset. However, the situation may be pronounced when the government does not ignite the importance of health and wellness among the general population.
Wilkinson, R. G., & Marmot, M. G. (2003). Social determinants of health: The solid facts.
Non-medical determinants of health have the greater impact in people’s health. They are also the most challenging (but not impossible) to interfere/change. In general, education and income are associated with child mortality, being the latter most important, once poverty dictates many aspects of life including opportunities for education.
Social determinants of health has been a large topic for many years and can have a positive and negative effect on individuals, families and communities. (World Health Organisation, 2009) The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices. Social determinants have many factors and in this essay education will be the main social determinant of health discussed and how this could have an impact on the physical and mental sides of health.
What are social determinates of health? Why should they be considered in planning community programing?
A social determinant of health contains the important key factors that decide whether the individual or society will have healthy or unhealthy lifestyle. Social determinant of health is basically the socio-economic condition of all individuals, communities and jurisdiction to shape their health. It also gives an opportunity to an individual in whom they have got physical, societal and personal assets to find and attain their personal goals, meet their requirements and learn to survive in the environment. A community provides quantitative and qualitative ranges of resources to their population according to their needs are also a part of social determinants of health. These resources contain early childhood development, education system, food,
Daniels, Normal, Bruce P. Kennedy, and Ichiro Kawachi. "Why Justice Is Good for Our Health: The Social Determinants of Health Inequalities." Daeduls 128.4 (1999): 215-53. Print.
When one thinks of health, we think of our physical well-being, we think of the medicines we have to take to ensure our recovery in cases of illness, we think white-washed halls, doctors, nurses, candy stripers in their hospital clothes, we think vegetables and fruit juice, and the rest of that wellness-junk that the television infomercials make us buy, we think of sickness, we think of death, we think of life. We do not, or rarely, think of the underlying sociological implications of health and illness, through which we unknowingly dictate our actions, and through which our health manoeuvres through. Beyond the biological and natural conditions, through which our health is dictated, are the sociological factors affecting our wellbeing. It has been shown that the spread of diseases is heavily influenced by culture and tradition, and clearly, our socioeconomic statuses. Health therefore is much more than just an amalgamation of biological factors, but it extends to more socially-constructed sectors of our beings. And all these factors tend to procure inequalities.
Determinants of health extends far beyond healthcare and is influenced by social and economic determinants. Poor health is linked to poverty and all health choices depend on available resources and circumstances. The rural area is faced with more hindrances for getting quality healthcare. Those whom live in these areas are more likely to be malnourished and be exposed to unclean water and indoor smoking. These factors should be included when doing an analysis of health benefits, Health seeking behavior can be used as well and classified as family, community healthcare services and the state. Social economic status only looks at the inequalities when other factors such as lifestyle, ethnicity, and education should be included as well. The factors are not always included with health policies (Shaikh, 2008).
Childhood development is both a biological and psychological period that occurs to every human from birth to adolescence. The transition from dependency to autonomy characterizes this period. The crucial factors that affect this period include parental life, prenatal development and genetics among others. Childhood period is immensely significant for the child’s future health and development. Efforts in ensuring proper child development are normally seen through parents, health professional and educators who work collectively. Such efforts are essential in making sure that children grow to reach their full potential. However, it is not extremely easy to raise a child in modern times because certain factors emerge to ruin this pivotal stage in life. Poverty is a serious problem that can immensely affect childhood development (Horgan, 2007). Children are susceptible developmentally to problems in their earliest period of their life. Poverty is not a selective issue and it can affect all ages in any place, but its
The ability to have and maintain good health can determine the quality of, or lack of, life you live. Many in the New Zealand population, in particular, One parent families, experience many barriers to good health. These barriers are called social determinants of health and they are tools used to measure the health status of a population. For example, As identified in The social, cultural and economic determinants of health in NZ: Action to improve health report (Nation Health Committee, 1998) These determinants include income, education, transport, housing and access to clean water and food, stress, complex health needs, social gradient and early life just to name a few. Consequently, When one or more of these determinants begin to negatively
The health of an individual and their communities is affected by several elements which combine together. Whether an individual is healthy or not, is determined by their circumstances and environment.1 To a greater extent, factors such as where an individual lives, their relationships with family and friends, the state of their environment, income, genetics and level of education all have significant impacts on health, however the more frequently considered factors such as access and use of health care facilities regularly have less of an impact.6 Determinants of health is a term which was introduced in the 1970s as part of a broader analysis of research and policy on public health. Researchers argued that there was a lot of attention and too much expenditure on health being dedicated to individuals and their illnesses, and little or no investment in populations and their health. It was decided that public health should be more concerned with social policies and social determinants than with health facilities and the outcomes of diseases.7 The determinants of health include social and economic environment, physical environment and an individual’s behaviour and characteristics. The environment of an individual determines their health, holding responsible an individual for having poor health or acknowledging them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are not likely to be able to control several of the determinants of health. These determinants that make individuals healthy or not include the factors above, and numerous others.6
Awareness of the social determinants first arose in the work of social scientist and philosopher, Frederick Engel’s in “Conditions of the working class in England,” written more than 150 years ago (Rosenthal 2008). Originally indicated by WHO, in 2003, social determinants may include the social gradient, stress, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction, food and transportation. More recently, the effects of the social determinants have been outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a result of a “Toxic combination of poor social policies, unfair economic arrangements and bad politics (2008).” As research develops, WHO seek to improve the daily conditions of life whilst considering the circumstances in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, as well as manage the inequitable distribution of resources; power and
This essay will focus on what determinant of health means to the public health and will explain how three different types of determinants of health can have an impact on individuals and community health. The essay will also demonstrate how these factors can affect health by giving relevant examples. Finding out about what health interventions out there can improve the health of people.
‘Foundations of adult health are laid in early childhood’ (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003, p. 14). Upbringing and education can have both a positive and a negative effect on an individual during childhood depending on the quality of care received. A poor early life can cause reduced physical health and emotional functioning as a child ages into adulthood. A high level of care and education during childhood can lead to a more positive and healthy lifestyle. Educating children from an early age will help assist their lifestyle decisions as they mature and potentially the lifestyles of their future children.