Determinants of Health
Determinants of Health
The range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status are known as determinants of health.
The context of people’s lives determine their health, and so blaming individuals for having poor health or crediting them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are unlikely to be able to directly control many of the determinants of health.
The context of people’s lives determine their health, and so blaming individuals for having poor health or crediting them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are unlikely to be able to directly control many of the determinants of health.
The determinants of health include:
• the social and economic environment,
• the physical environment, and
• the person’s individual characteristics and behaviours.
• the social and economic environment,
• the physical environment, and
• the person’s individual characteristics and behaviours.
Determinants of health fall under several broad categories
• Genetics and biological
• Physical Factors
• Social Factors
• Health behavior
• Health Services and medical care
• Policymaking
• Physical Factors
• Social Factors
• Health behavior
• Health Services and medical care
• Policymaking
Genetics and Biological determinants:
• Some biological and genetic factors affect specific populations more than others.
• Physical and mental traits of every human being are to some extent determined by the nature of his or her genes.
• Inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. Hence the state of health therefore depends partly on the genetic constitution of man.
• Physical and mental traits of every human being are to some extent determined by the nature of his or her genes.
• Inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. Hence the state of health therefore depends partly on the genetic constitution of man.
Genetics and Biological determinants:
For example:
1. Older adults are biologically prone to being in poorer health than adolescents due to the physical and cognitive effects of aging.
2. Sickle cell disease is a common example of a genetic determinant of health. Sickle cell is a condition that people inherit when both parents carry the gene for sickle cell. Exp. Sickle cell anemia
– Age
– Sex
– HIV status
– Inherited conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia, hemophilia,
1. Older adults are biologically prone to being in poorer health than adolescents due to the physical and cognitive effects of aging.
2. Sickle cell disease is a common example of a genetic determinant of health. Sickle cell is a condition that people inherit when both parents carry the gene for sickle cell. Exp. Sickle cell anemia
– Age
– Sex
– HIV status
– Inherited conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia, hemophilia,
Physical/Environmental determinants:
• Environment has a direct impact on the physical, mental and social well-being of those living in it.
• Physical environment – safe water and clean air, healthy workplaces, safe houses, communities and roads all contribute to good health.
• Employment and working conditions – people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have more control over their working conditions.
• Personal environment – individual’s way of living and life style influence health of a person
• Diseases associated with poor water and sanitation impose heavy burden among young children, the poor, the immunocomormised and displaced population
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Diarrhoealdiseases alone are responsible for 1.5 million deaths annaully, including760,000 among children under 5 (WHO, 2013)
• Basic water security and sanitation still elude much of the world’s population living in low-income countries
• 2.3 billion people still do not have basic sanitation facilities such as toilets or latrines.
• Of these, 892 million still defecate in the open, for example in street gutters, behind bushes or into open bodies of water.
• At least 10% of the world’s population is thought to consume food irrigated by wastewater.
• Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio.
• Natural environment, such as plants, weather, or climate change
• Built environment, such as buildings or transportation
• Worksites, schools, and recreational settings
• Housing, homes, and neighborhoods
• Exposure to toxic substances and other physical hazards
• Physical barriers, especially for people with disabilities
• Aesthetic elements, such as good lighting, trees, or Benches
• Physical environment – safe water and clean air, healthy workplaces, safe houses, communities and roads all contribute to good health.
• Employment and working conditions – people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have more control over their working conditions.
• Personal environment – individual’s way of living and life style influence health of a person
• Diseases associated with poor water and sanitation impose heavy burden among young children, the poor, the immunocomormised and displaced population
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Diarrhoealdiseases alone are responsible for 1.5 million deaths annaully, including760,000 among children under 5 (WHO, 2013)
• Basic water security and sanitation still elude much of the world’s population living in low-income countries
• 2.3 billion people still do not have basic sanitation facilities such as toilets or latrines.
• Of these, 892 million still defecate in the open, for example in street gutters, behind bushes or into open bodies of water.
• At least 10% of the world’s population is thought to consume food irrigated by wastewater.
• Poor sanitation is linked to transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio.
• Natural environment, such as plants, weather, or climate change
• Built environment, such as buildings or transportation
• Worksites, schools, and recreational settings
• Housing, homes, and neighborhoods
• Exposure to toxic substances and other physical hazards
• Physical barriers, especially for people with disabilities
• Aesthetic elements, such as good lighting, trees, or Benches
Social Determinants of Health(SDH)
• Social determinants of health are economic and social conditions that influence the health of people and communities.
• The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels.
• The social determinants of health (SDH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.
• The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.
• The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels.
• The social determinants of health (SDH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.
• The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.
Examples of Social determinants of Health:
• Economic status /income
• Education
• Employment and working conditions
• Early childhood development
• Food insecurity
• Housing
• Social safety network/Social support
• Political system of the country
• Gender
• Education
• Employment and working conditions
• Early childhood development
• Food insecurity
• Housing
• Social safety network/Social support
• Political system of the country
• Gender
Economic status:
• Economic progress has been the major factor in reducing morbidity, increasing life expectancy and improving the quality of life.
• Economic status determines the purchasing power, standard of living, quality of life, family size, and pattern of disease.
• Higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.
• Economic status determines the purchasing power, standard of living, quality of life, family size, and pattern of disease.
• Higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.
Education:
• The level of educational attainment is increasingly being recognized as an important social determinant of health.
• Higher educational attainment can play a significant role in shaping employment opportunities, it can also increase the capacity for better decision making regarding one’s health, and provide scope for increasing social and personal resources that are vital for physical and mental health.
• Low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence.
• Education to some extent compensates the effects of poverty on health , irrespective of availability of health Facility.
• Higher educational attainment can play a significant role in shaping employment opportunities, it can also increase the capacity for better decision making regarding one’s health, and provide scope for increasing social and personal resources that are vital for physical and mental health.
• Low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence.
• Education to some extent compensates the effects of poverty on health , irrespective of availability of health Facility.
Occupation:
• Being employed in productive work promotes health
• Unemployed usually show a higher incidence of illness ad death
• Loss of work may mean loss of income and status
• Loss of work can impact on psychological aspect and can cause social damage.
• Employment and working conditions affect the health of workers and their families.
• Unemployed usually show a higher incidence of illness ad death
• Loss of work may mean loss of income and status
• Loss of work can impact on psychological aspect and can cause social damage.
• Employment and working conditions affect the health of workers and their families.
Social safety network/Social support:
• Social support networks – greater support from families, friends and communities is linked to better health. Culture - customs and traditions, and the beliefs of the family and community all affect health.
Political system
• Health is related to the country’s political system
• Decisions concerning resource allocation, manpower policy, choice of technology and the degree to which health services are made available and accessible to different segment s of the society are example of the manner in which the political system can shape community health.
• Percentage of GNP spent on health is a quantitative indicator of political commitment.
• If poor health patterns are to be changed, then changes must be made in the entire socio-political system in any given community.
• Social, economic, political actions are required to eliminate health hazards in people’s working and living environments.
• Decisions concerning resource allocation, manpower policy, choice of technology and the degree to which health services are made available and accessible to different segment s of the society are example of the manner in which the political system can shape community health.
• Percentage of GNP spent on health is a quantitative indicator of political commitment.
• If poor health patterns are to be changed, then changes must be made in the entire socio-political system in any given community.
• Social, economic, political actions are required to eliminate health hazards in people’s working and living environments.
Gender:
• Men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages.
• WHO (2010) recognizes that gender is an important determinant of
health in two dimensions:
1) gender inequality leads to health risks for women and girls globally; and
2) addressing gender norms and roles leads to a better understanding of how the social construction of identity and unbalanced power relations between men and women affect the risks, health-seeking behaviour and health outcomes of men and women in different age and social groups.
• Gender inequality damages the physical and mental health of millions of girls and women across the globe,
• WHO (2010) recognizes that gender is an important determinant of
health in two dimensions:
1) gender inequality leads to health risks for women and girls globally; and
2) addressing gender norms and roles leads to a better understanding of how the social construction of identity and unbalanced power relations between men and women affect the risks, health-seeking behaviour and health outcomes of men and women in different age and social groups.
• Gender inequality damages the physical and mental health of millions of girls and women across the globe,
Gender equality in health:
Gender equality in health means that women and men, across the life-course and in all their diversity, have the same conditions and opportunities to realize their full rights and potential to be healthy, contribute to health development and benefit from the results. Achieving gender equality in health often requires specific measures to mitigate barriers.
Behavioral and Socio-cultural conditions
• Culture - customs and traditions, and the beliefs of the family and community all affect health.
• Individual behavior also plays a role in health outcomes.
• Life style reflecting a whole range of social values, attitude and activities. Health requires the promotion of healthy lifestyle.
• Many public health and health care interventions focus on changing individual behaviors such as substance abuse, diet, and physical activity. Positive changes in individual behavior can reduce the rates of chronic disease.
Example of behavioral determinants:
– Diet
– Physical activity
– Alcohol, cigarette, and other drug use
• Individual behavior also plays a role in health outcomes.
• Life style reflecting a whole range of social values, attitude and activities. Health requires the promotion of healthy lifestyle.
• Many public health and health care interventions focus on changing individual behaviors such as substance abuse, diet, and physical activity. Positive changes in individual behavior can reduce the rates of chronic disease.
Example of behavioral determinants:
– Diet
– Physical activity
– Alcohol, cigarette, and other drug use
Health Services
• Access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influences health.
• Both access to health services and the quality of health services can impact health.
• Lack of access, or limited access, to health services greatly impacts an individual’s health status.
• Both access to health services and the quality of health services can impact health.
• Lack of access, or limited access, to health services greatly impacts an individual’s health status.
Barrier to accessing health services
• Lack of availability
• High cost
• Lack of insurance coverage
• Limited language access
• High cost
• Lack of insurance coverage
• Limited language access
These barriers to accessing health services lead to:
• Unmet health needs
• Delays in receiving appropriate care
• Inability to get preventive services
• Hospitalizations that could have been prevented Ageing of Population
• A major concern of rapid population ageing is the increased prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities, both these conditions that tend to accompany the ageing process and deserve special attention.
• Delays in receiving appropriate care
• Inability to get preventive services
• Hospitalizations that could have been prevented Ageing of Population
• A major concern of rapid population ageing is the increased prevalence of chronic diseases and disabilities, both these conditions that tend to accompany the ageing process and deserve special attention.
Comments
Post a Comment