Social Determinants of Health This essay will shed light on the definition along with explanation of the term “social determinants of health. Furthermore, it will include the grounds on to why housing, income, and environment are deemed as the social determinants of health. Last but not least, the essay will exemplify that how the housing, income and environment of a person can adversely affect their health. Definition of ‘social determinants of health’ Social determinants of health are the economic, social, as well as environmental circumstances which effect on not only the health of individuals but also populations.
Explanation of the term ‘social determinants of health’ The social determinants of health cover the circumstances of everyday life and the organizational effects upon them. Furthermore, they are formed by currency distribution, by influence and by the resources at not only local level but also at national and global levels. They evaluate the magnitude of a person’s accurate social, personal and physical resources in order to attain his/her targets, to fulfill his/her needs and to manage with the alterations in his/her circumstances (Brown & Nepal, 2010).
Therefore, social determinants of health are the multifaceted, cohesive, and corresponding social as well economic structures which are accountable for utmost health discriminations. Such social as well economic structures consist of the social setting, physical situation, health amenities, along with structural as well as societal aspects (WHO, n. d. ). The term “social determinants of health” includes the circumstances in which persons are born, in which they are raised, in which they spent their lives, in which they work and in which they tend towards oldness.
These conditions are generally accountable for inequities in health, which includes the imbalanced and unnecessary dissimilarities in health standings seen at national level as well as among various countries (Brown & Nepal, 2010). Social determinants of health and inequity in health are the agendas of global development and they push towards advanced attainment of worldwide coverage of health. If the need to lessen down health inequities is to be addressed, then not only worldwide coverage of health but also social determinants of health should be considered in a systematic as well as integrated manner.
World Conference on Social Determinants of Health had been conducted in October 2011 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to make corrective actions in some areas (World Conference on Social Determinants of Health, 2011). These areas include enhancement of governance for health as well as development, increased contribution in making and executing policies, reorientation of the health departments towards the progress of health and to lessen down the inequities in this sector, reinforcement of worldwide collaboration and governance and monitored advancement and enhanced accountability (Brown & Nepal, 2010).
In this regard, the World Health Organization has the verdict that this imbalanced health distribution has destructive consequences which cannot be deemed as a natural phenomenon by any mean rather, it is the outcome of a lethal arrangement of underprivileged social policies, prejudicial economic provisions and worse politics. In this condition, the healthy and well-off is becoming even healthier and richer and the one who are already poor has the possibility of becoming even less healthy and ill and becoming even poorer” (Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 2008).
Therefore, Social Determinants of Health (SDH) are aimed to increase the awareness among elected members of local government and officers of health discriminations. The social determinant of health is primarily important for local government for addressing some aspects as if it is necessary for building aptitude, skill and confidence among local government for communicating to Social Determinants of Health (SDH). Broadcasting of awareness as well as learning to all indigenous authorities and its partners are a part of its instructions (Brown & Nepal, 2010).
Housing as social determinant of health House is a primary place where a person born, lives, learns and works and it depends on the level of quality and suitability of that very person. Housing is one of the most important social determinants of health and living a satisfied happy life. The fundamental level of housing quality is intensely relevant to the features of privacy related issues, safe play areas for children and walking area for elders, over populated place, damp and improper storage of food and preparation areas.
All these features have particular effects on health. The physical as well as mental health of an individual majorly influences by the infrastructure, level of quality of homes and neighborhoods. Inadequate housing has adverse impact on mental health of an individual. Well-designed homes where basic feasibility are easily in access, physical and mental health of an individual can be more enhanced and it can lead to the well-being of that person (Keleher, 2011).
Poor housing contributes to or causes several preventable diseases and wounds comprising nervous system, respiratory system, and diseases relevant to cardiovascular and cancer as well. Numerous chronicle conditions of health experienced by aged people have a causal link to, or are exacerbate by inadequate housing. Such circumstances of poor housing may cause diseases like stroke, heart disease, mental health, respiratory conditions, rheumatism and arthritis. Therefore, suitable and decent housing can decrease the expenditures on health care.
Improving the housing style can help in efficient savings and can prevent from many chronically diseases which usually occur in old houses under such circumstances (Keleher, 2011). Example of how housing can adversely impact the life of a person The anticipation of falls is of foremost significance because it causes considerable morbidity, mortality, and suffering for aged people and their beloved ones, and incurs comprehensive economic expenditures because of being admit in hospital and admissions in care homes.
It is observed that people living in cold homes and under bad insulating systems of such homes are more likely to be suffered from cardiovascular diseases as well as respiration relevant problems. For instance, in cold houses, the improper or poor installation of heating system can cause flu and cough more frequently. Low temperature of house may cause bone problems like arthritis as well as rheumatism. Such circumstances also create negative impacts on the mental health of individuals while extreme cold condition may cause deaths (Keleher, 2011).
Income as social determinant of health Income is one of prominent features of the socio-economic determinants of health. People who earn less usually possess less professional skills. Most probably, the reason behind poor professional skills is lack of proper education. These people live in poor conditions. The financial status of people positively or negatively influence on the health of an individual. Due to insufficient resources, people failed to get their basic needs of life like place for living, nutritious food, clothing, and education for their children.
Various factors regarding social as well as behavior strongly influence discriminations i ultimately it impacts on generating health related problems (Kawachi, 2010). Less income and level of poverty is a key social determinant of health specifically those which are powerfully correlated with inadequate health condition. While comparing the health status among people, which belongs to different classes, it was found that people who earn less usually have poor health condition as compared to the people who earned more (Laverty & Callaghan, 2011).
Improving the income status of poor people of society is frequently proposed as a way of progress in their health and decreases the inequalities of health. Example of how income can adversely impact the life of a person People suffered from social and economic conflicts usually report status of poor health and numerous risk factors of diseases. It was found that people who have less earning have great tendency to involve in very risky behaviors of health likewise taking drugs, drinking alcohol, smoking, eating unhygienic food and having less physical activity (Laverty & Callaghan, 2011).
Furthermore, people who faces poverty and unemployment have great chance of heaw drinking, thus possibly leading to exploitation or they majorly depend on alcohol and other deleterious consequence for physical, mental and social health. Chronically, diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, and coronary health disease are more likely found among people of less income than high income individuals ((Laverty & Callaghan, 2011; Uphoff, 2013). Environment as social determinant of health The “physical structures or built environment”, and set-up of homes and communities, can strongly impact the well-being and options for regime of individuals.
The safety of neighborhood, appropriate place for physical activity, close contiguity to providers of inexpensive foods which is dense from nutritional prospective (for example vegetables and fruits) clean air, accessibility to recognized health services, options for transportation, and economical housing are all vital necessities for helping individuals in getting full and vivacious healthy life. Example of how environment can adversely impact the life of a person Less physical activity raises the level of blood pressure, risk of diabetes, and weight gaining problems.
It can be stimulated by conditions of environment that create fear as well as apprehension of victimization for example the existence of crime, or by an absence of orderly sidewalks as well as walkability in environs. Kids belong to such physical surroundings have great tendency to become bulky and obese. Communities, having less physical possessions and fewer appropriate conditions of living, faces poorer complete health comprising their higher level of depression, mortality among infant, less birth weight of new born babies, maltreatment of child, and homicide rates.
The built environment aids in mediation of an individual’s opinions about the opportunities of health accessible to them, their skill and probability of appealing in healthy behaviors and their capability for buffered lethal and traumatic exposures. Conclusion In conclusion, social determinants of health like housing, income and environment greatly influences the health of an individual. All the determinants are interlinked with each other because if an individual has less earning, then he/she cannot afford good housing and pleasant environment, which ultimately impact on health conditions.
