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How do social factors affect health essay
Essays on the social determinants of health
Health Inequality
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Social Determinants of health play a significant role in determining health inequalities among New Zealanders. The social determinants of health as described by the World Health Organisation are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, age & live. These also include any other wider set forces or systems shaping the conditions of daily life (World Health Organisation,2017). This essay will outline how key social determinants of health such as unemployment, poverty and living conditions. Impact health inequalities among Maori in New Zealand. Maori are the indigenous population of New Zealand and encompass only fifteen percent of New Zealand’s total population (Becares, Cormack & Harris,2013). In recent years there has been a decrease …show more content…
Mentally, poverty like unemployment, can cause heightened levels of stress and depression among the Maori population. The effects on mental health from the lack of income can be vast, from slight bouts of depression to suicidal tendencies and addiction. These addictive behaviours can start small with cigarettes and alcohol. However, as a person’s life begins to spiral out of control, these addictions can grow into more serious and prolonged forms of substance abuse. These include the abuse of alcohol causing alcoholism and misuse of drugs. Even the simplest forms of addiction can be shown to be a major drain on a person’s income and can be a large factor in premature death (Wilkinson & Marmot, 2003). The number one form of addiction among Maori is cigarettes, as Maori are currently the number one consumer of cigarettes in New Zealand. A total of thirty three percent of Maori males and forty one percent of Maori female’s smoke. Comparing that to only fourteen percent of non-Maori males and seventeen percent of non-Maori females (Action on smoking and health,2015). Maori are three times as likely to die from lung cancer and other smoking related diseases as non-Maori. (Action on smoking in health,2015). As mentioned prior, poverty effects the rate in which addiction becomes more prevalent among a population. These addictions grow in relation to the mental health …show more content…
Unemployment, poverty and the living conditions of the Maori population all play a significant role in the inequalities Maori face. As discussed unemployment is shown to be a large contributor to the lowered mortality rate of the Maori population, as well as effecting their mental health greatly. Unemployment can also act as a catalyst to other social determinants of health, such as poverty among the Maori population. The lack of income, can make it hard for families to provide the right food and recreational requirements for a healthy growing lifestyle. therefore, contributing greatly to the Maori populations growing obesity epidemic. Poverty also greatly influences the rate in which addiction spreads, as well the conditions in which Maori live. The lowered standards of living among Maori influences many prolonged health conditions, in addition to overcrowding which also helps to facilitate the rate of infection spreading among a household. Unfortunately, many social determinants of health impact the quality of life Maori have in New Zealand and this is shown by how vastly overrepresented they are when it comes to poor health
There are significant health disparities that exist between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians. Being an Indigenous Australian means the person is and identifies as an Indigenous Australian, acknowledges their Indigenous heritage and is accepted as such in the community they live in (Daly, Speedy, & Jackson, 2010). Compared with Non-Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal people die at much younger ages, have more disability and experience a reduced quality of life because of ill health. This difference in health status is why Indigenous Australians health is often described as “Third World health in a First World nation” (Carson, Dunbar, Chenhall, & Bailie, 2007, p.xxi). Aboriginal health care in the present and future should encompass a holistic approach which includes social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing in order to be culturally suitable to improve Indigenous Health. There are three dimensions of health- physical, social and mental- that all interrelate to determine an individual’s overall health. If one of these dimensions is compromised, it affects how the other two dimensions function, and overall affects an individual’s health status. The social determinants of health are conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age which includes education, economics, social gradient, stress, early life, social inclusion, employment, transport, food, and social supports (Gruis, 2014). The social determinants that are specifically negatively impacting on Indigenous Australians health include poverty, social class, racism, education, employment, country/land and housing (Isaacs, 2014). If these social determinants inequalities are remedied, Indigenous Australians will have the same opportunities as Non-Ind...
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.
There are some social determinants factors contribute to Australian indigenous people’s mental health disorders. The addiction incidence of mental health disorders and substance misuse problems is terribly high. Aboriginal Australians suffer from unemployment and that can give rise to substance misuse, anxiety, depression, and sometimes severe mental health conditions. The social isolation risks rose up with development of social exclusion and hardship, such as addiction, divorce, disability, s...
The essay will be looking at , poverty, employment and unemployment, poor diets as determinants of health in this context amongst other factors such as housing, mental health, social support network, education, culture, individual behaviours, genetics, gender because they have the best documented evidence on research in health inequalities in Britain available in the Black Report (DHSS 1980; Townsend, Davidson and Whitehead, 1992), Acheson Report (Acheson 1998), and FairSociety, HealthyLives Report, and other academic sources.
In conclusion the colonisation of Australia and the adoption of discriminatory policies eroded Aboriginal culture and tradition affecting their sense of well-being and thus deteriorated their health. Today these policies are reflected in the social determinants of health as socio-economic disadvantages. They continue to impact contemporary Aboriginal people. In order to improve Aboriginal health outcomes; the impacts of these policies need to be overturned. This can be done by assisting them with improving their socio-economic status in the light of their needs and traditions.
Therefore, providing culturally appropriate services for people has significant role for health professional; the main reasons of this is culturally appropriate services are linked inextricably with the health of the clients. According to Oda & Rameka (2012), in 1980s, Maori were experience racial discrimination and that is linked to higher rate of illness on Maori, such as mental illness, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, mortality, and health-risk behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. This is the results of unfair health service. During to the research (Oda & Rameka, 2012), people are more attempt not to see the doctor when they are experiencing discrimination and it makes their mortality higher than other non- Maori. Another factor could be Maori are not unable to access the health information and there was poor health literacy in that era and they were not able to understand different disease and lack of health education of living with a healthy lifestyle (Oda & Rameka, 2012). A classic example can be seen in the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, at the era, people did not know the repercussion of tobacco and alcohol use, but if they were able to access the information they would understand the
Social determinants of health influence a wide range of health conditions, health behaviors and management. As a result of colonization, systematic racism and discrimination; many Aboriginal peoples are disadvantaged by having limited access to the resources and conditions necessary for health care. Aboriginal people in Canada face higher rates of unemployment, limited economic opportunities, poor housing, and lower educational attainment than non-Aboriginal peoples (Reading 2009). This translates to poverty which influences access to material resources such as nutrient rich foods that can lead to diabetes (Appiah-kubi 2015) as well as available resources to manage diabetes and its complications. Education level, employment and income influence
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.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) outlines that there are a range of factors that contribute to the health of individuals and communities and these factors combine to affect health outcomes. The determinants of health have been categorised by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare as social determinants, biomedical risk factors and behavioural risk factors. The AIHW classify a determinant as “any factor that can increase the chances of ill health (risk factors) or good health (protective factors) in a population or individual” (AIHW, 2016, p448). The determinants of health can be used to determine an individual’s current health based of their condition and circumstances.
Durie, M. (2001). Mauri ora:The dynamics of Maori health. Auckland, New Zealand: Oxford university press.
The aim of this essay is to discuss the definition of health and determinants of health. It also aims to identify and examine some key issues related to social divisons; economic disparity; environmental and individual psychological factors and further explain how these can impact on health. This essay is supported by some of my own experiences.
Through education, many people will learn why taking the first step toward better health care is necessary for the future health of Aotearoa. However, statistics are already improving as there are more health care facilities reaching those that could not afford to make regular trips to their local GP. As part of the campaign ‘Smokefree 2025’, the Ministry of Health is working to improve the education on the whole population and provide more medical services, including mobile care (Edwards et al., 2014). The purpose is for the government to get behind this campaign and make it a realistic future for New Zealand, with communication on how and what the future of New Zealand’s healthcare has to offer Maori. Maori Affairs Committee made smokefree 2025 their election campaign which not only became a popular topic to discuss why this is an important issue, but also how they will achieve this (MOH, 2014). The treaty of Waitangi has a great influence in this campaign as the Maori Affairs Committee use the treaty as their back bone to set up facilities for
Therefore, providing culturally appropriate services for people has significant role for health professional; the main reasons of this is culturally appropriate services are link inextricably with the health of the client. According to Oda & Rameka (2012), in 1980s, Maori were experience racial discrimination and poor health outcomes, such as mental illness, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, mortality, and health-risk behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption. This is results of unfair health service and Maori could not access the health information and there was poor health literacy at that era and they were not able to understand different disease and lack of health education of living with a health lifestyle (Oda & Rameka, 2012). A classic example can be seen in the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, at the era, people did not know the repercussion of tobacco and alcohol use but if they were able to access the information they would understand the information. Therefore, Maori life expectancy has remained steady or declined, while other non-Maori life expectancy increase(Oda & Rameka, 2012). Hence, health professionals should ensure every ethic groups have the same right to access the information of health and have fair treatment and health
New Zealand children are born with grossly unequal opportunities for health. Professor Gluckman (Prof. Of paediatrics at the Auckland University School of Medicine) said,
Results from the 2006 Adult Literacy & Life Skills Survey found approximately 1.6 million New Zealand adults have low health literacy skills (Workbase, n.d). Furthermore, Maori between the ages of 16 and 65 have the poorest health literacy in comparison to non-Maori across all of the measured variables (Ministry of Health, 2010).