Social Determinants of Health in New Zealand

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

This essay will identify three social determinants, Income, Housing and education and it will also discuss how these determinants impact on health inequalities for one parent families in New Zealand.
INCOME
Sole parents are the solitary income earners in the family, it is their duty to provide for their families financially. Statistics show that in 2009, 73% of sole parents were in receipt of a benefit, earning between $15,000 - $18,000 per annum before tax, the other 27% were employed either full or part time (Ministry of Social Development, 2010). These low income families are at a disadvantage because income is the one social determinant that determines their overall health status. It can determine the families living conditions, weather you are able to provide regular access to nutritional food and also determine weather your family is able to partake in healthy recreational activities but most of all , it determines your overall state of well being. Some factors that affect income is employment, a lack of education or experience leaves parents

As has been noted, Each determinant is linked together to provide an over view of a populations health status, Being able to understand how each one affects health statuses can significantly reduce inequalities. The government and other health professionals continue to come together to create health policies and strategies in order to benefit all New Zealanders. These are being implemented through each District Health Board in New Zealand, Health officials also acknowledge that maintaining the health of the population would be more cost effective, introducing new health initiatives and having them actively promoted through the health promotion agency, (2012) as well as having access points such as community houses available for health educators to actively educate communities for free. Encouragement of healthier lifestyles and tips of how this can be achieved, especially for low income families. At the same time, Improving housing conditions and making them more accessible and affordable, Most importantly increasing income by closing the wage gap. As we have learnt, Income has the biggest influence on a families health status, as discussed, the higher your income the more options are available to you as opposed to a family on a low income and being limited to options. All the