Four Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

1818 Words4 Pages

Substantial evidence is increasing, giving the Minister of Health more reason to believe housing, income, employment and education, abbreviated as the socioeconomic determinants of health, are to some degree responsible for poor health and inequalities (Public Health Advisory Committee PHAC, 2004). The purpose of this assignment is to discuss these four determinants and how they impact health from the Public Health Advisory Committee’s perspective. Employment and housing will be discussed in further detail as well as government policies, strategies or legislations will be included. To conclude this assignment a brief reflection will be made as to why understanding the socioeconomic determinants have a connection with providing quality nursing care.

Housing; “involves both a side (dwelling) and a situation (neighbourhood)” (National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability NHC, 1998, p. 30). Housing is a key aspect towards poverty, in turn has a connection with inadequate health (PHAC, 2004). This relates strongly with quality of housing. People live in properties that are cold and damp which are not insulated. Therefore, these factors promote susceptibility to disease, particularly in younger children (PHAC, 2004). Another contributing factor is that majority of household income is spent on rent or mortgages which could leave many families with less funds to spend on essential items or in some cases resort to overcrowding or ‘temporary accommodation’ such as garages or caravans (PHAC, 2004).

Income is defined as “money received, especially periodically, from work or investments” (Swannell, 1986, p. 272). As outlined by PHAC (2004), income is “the strongest predictor in health” (p. 20). Statistical evidence s...

... middle of paper ...

...er public services. Retrieved from http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_General/Housing_policy.pdf

National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability. (1998). The social, cultural and economic determinants of health in New Zealand: Action to improve health. Wellington, New Zealand: National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability.

Swannell, J. (Ed.). (1986). The little oxford dictionary of current English (6th ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

The Public Health Advisory Committee. (2004). The health of people and communities. A way forward: Public policy and the economic determinants of health. Wellington, New Zealand: The Public Health Advisory Committee.

Unitec. (2012). HEAL5020: The Sociological Perspective: Society Groups Individuals. Auckland, NZ: Mullard, T.

Unitec. (2012). HEAL5020: Work and Economic Life. Auckland, NZ: Mullard, T.

Open Document