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Social determinants of health inequalities essay
Inequalities in health and illness
Social determinants of health inequalities essay
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Health inequalities are the differences in health status or in the distribution of hardiness determinants between separate population groups Those differences are unjust when they can be determined as being unfair or voidable. The social determinants of health are the collective prepare of conditions in which people are born, grow up, live and work. These include housing, education, financial ease, and the built surrounding as well as the health system. It is now widely accepted that these social determinants are accountable for significant levels of unfair health ‘inequities’. So whilst some health inequalities are the result of innate biological differences or free selection, others are beyond the subdue of individuals or groups and could be avoided.
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are increasingly becoming a major problem of Public Health around the World. The impact of resources and material deprivation among people and populations has resulted in an increase in mortality rate on a planetary scale. Social determinants of health are defined as the personal, social, economic and the environmental conditions which determines the health status of an individual or population (Gardner, 2013). Today’s society is characterized by inequalities in health, education, income and many other factors which as a result is becoming a burden for Public Health around the world. Research studies have shown that the conditions in which people live and work strongly influenced their health. Individuals with high levels of education and fall within the high income bracket turn to have stable jobs, live in the best neighborhood and have access to quality health care system than individuals who have low education and fall with the low income bracket. This paper is to explain different social determinants of health and how they play ...
Social Determinants are the conditions in which people are born, live, grow, work and age. The social determinants are mostly responsible for the health inequalities presented within society – the inequalities between different countries. Some examples of the social determinants are represented with the movie Billy Elliot. Social Determinants include – Social Gradient, Social Exclusion,
Health Disparities and Racism is an ongoing problem that is reflected among society. Health is when an individual is physically, mentally and social well being is complete. However health disparities seems to be a social injustice within various ethnicities. Health disparities range from age, race, income, education and many other things. Even though we realize health disparities are more noticeable depending on the region of country where they live in. Racism is one of the most popular factors, for why it’s known that people struggle with health.
Wilkinson, R. M. (2003). Social determinants of health - the solid facts. [S.l.]: World Health Organization.
...an, P., Egerter, S., & Williams, D. R. (2011). The social determinants of health: coming
Working Group on Inequalities in Health (1982) Inequalities in Health (The Black Report), London, HMSO, 1982.
Wilkinson, R.G. & Marmot, M.G. 2003, Social determinants of health: the solid facts, World Health Organization.
Ungen, M. M., Siegel, M. M., & Lauterbach, K. W. (2011). Could inequality in health be cured
Wilkinson, R. G., & Marmot, M. G. (2003). Social determinants of health: The solid facts.
According to the World Health Organisation (2017) the social determinants of health are defined as the conditions where people are born, grown, work and live, which also includes the health system. The social determinants of health determined populations health’s outcomes and therefore linked with health inequalities (WHO, 2017)
Socio-economic class or socio-economic status (SES) may refer to mixture of various factors such as poverty, occupation and environment. It is a way of measuring the standard and quality of life of individuals and families in society using social and economic factors that affect health and wellbeing ( Giddens and Sutton, 2013). Cockerham (2007 p75) argues: ‘Social class or socioeconomic status (SES) is the strongest predictor of health, disease causation and longevity in medical sociology.’ Research in the 1990s, (Drever and Whitehead, 1997) found out that people in higher SES are generally healthier, and live longer than those in lower SES.
Social Determinants of health is the “conditions in which people are born, live, work and age that affect their health” Healthypeople.gov. (2017). Social Determinants of Health | Healthy People 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-health [Accessed 22 Sep. 2017]. The determinants of health are important because it helps create policies to make changes, as well as improving public health conditions by addressing the different health outcomes an individual can face and improving the need for healthier conditions. Healthy People 2020 organizes the determinants of health in both a social and physical determinant which has an impact on health.
This includes, but is not limited to, race, gender, socioeconomic status, education, geographical location, early childhood development, occupation, and social support. Social determinants are classified, specifically, as fixed or variable. This ultimately means that one’s classified “social determinant” is either something that is unable to be changed or is something that is able to be altered. Therefore, there are some social determinants for which the individual has a choice on whether or not their actions are controlled by those specific facets of themselves. For example, some social determinants for which an individual has no choice includes their race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status (or more specifically, the socioeconomic status for which you are born to), and early childhood development. Compared to other social determinants, these are factors to every individual that we are unable to change, due to the fact that these specific characteristics are traits that we are born with. Although some of these determinants are able to be changed, the health implications that are connected to these factors will continue to alter and change the individual’s life. For instance, there are specific health issues that affect more individuals in a specific race or gender compared to another social group, ultimately altering the individual’s health. Also, socioeconomic status is linked to many
Nordqvist, Christian stated some facts about health, “ health can be defined as a physical, mental, and social well being, and a resource for living a full life. It refers not only to the absence of disease, but the ability to recover and bounce back from illness. Factors for good health include genetics, the environment, relationship, and education.”(page2). Health can be defined in many factors, but they all relate to a person's status and where their class in the economy. If one is wealthy, he or she can have access to healthcare that provides treatment to any of their health issues. But for the people who have low income, they can not afford health insurance and have a higher risk of becoming ill because they don’t have the resources to live a full healthy life. Most of those individuals have mental health issues because they often stress about living and surviving everyday with so little income. Christian Nordiqvist also said, “According to the WHO, the higher a person's socioeconomic status (SES), the more likely they are to enjoy good health, a good education, a well-paid job, afford good healthcare when their health is threatened” (pg.2). Christian is correct because the wealthier a person is, the higher chance of being in good health because he or she has the privilege of good health
...on, race, and political belief, economic or social condition. Improving the poor health of disadvantaged individuals and reducing health gaps is important but not enough to level up health through socioeconomic groups. The objective of tackling health inequalities can be changed to local needs and priorities of a community allowing wide-ranging partnerships of support to be organised. However it needs to be made clear that what can be done to help improve the life chances and health prospects of individuals living in poverty may not come close to bringing their health prospects closer to the average of the rest of the population or prevent the gap living on throughout the generations. Being clear about what is trying to be overcome and achieved needs upmost importance in the development and delivery of policies that will promote health equality across the population.