My Concept of Social Determinants of Health, Essay Example

In the concept of “social determinants of health” within a society, I have learned how they impact health conditions in individuals within such a community. They are factors that influence health statuses socially within people in the society either directly or indirectly (Healthy people 2030). The topic suggests that enough considerations should be taken concerning community well-being for a society to prosper health-wise. The main factors in sociology concept that cut across the community health line include;

The feeling of “personal or collective efficacy” (Community Tool Box, Chapter 17) depicts the ability to take control of life as it leads through meanders. In a nutshell, the context details self-control. As per the studies, a well-centered family has historical evidence of well-being and leads a healthy life.

Another crucial part is feeling attached to a certain community and enjoying the moment of unity in the same environment. Previous studies have indicated that “belonging” to a set of joyous people who appreciate you will lead to a long and healthy life. Never knew that “social connection” has such a vital impact on a health aspect of a community. Individual wages and salaries also adversely affect a community’s health status through chronic stressful diseases like cancer and heart failure.

How They Affect Specific Community Health

According to the Community check box, there are different ways in which certain part of the community is affected by the factors mentioned above. But, first of all, I learned how simplification of the causal factors is highly recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), as depicted below;

Simplification of Causal Factors

The WHO advises breaking down the determinants into simpler factors for easier tackling and eradicating community health determinants. For instance, dividing the causal factors into unemployment rate, the rate of exclusion in a community, supporting each other as a society, and the regulative gap of wealth and resource distribution is easier to deal with, unlike when stacked together. The strategy is to simplify the problem at hand, making it easier to face and, if possible, eradicate it completely. Although some are hard to curb, like completely wealth distribution, there are high hopes of bettering society differently. Before dealing with the problem, one needs to understand better what affects the people in terms of society’s health.

In terms of community and health, there are different effects on a different parts of communities relying on nature and exposure. I have learned different ways in which different communities might face different effects from the same causal factors as depicted;

Consequential differences as depicted by different family needs per their social and economic status. For instance, a wealthy family will worry about different aspects of life and see issues to be minor. On the other hand, a low-income family will have different worries, which in most cases are not ‘bumps on the wealthy family road’. The scenario gives a different perspective of social health and the care required to deal with such health aspects. The scenario shows disparities in social health in different classes of the same society.

A vulnerable community will be at higher risk of suffering poor health statuses caused by the determinants than the same population on a different risk and vulnerability level. For instance, inadequate health care resources will lead to chronic diseases or late diagnosis, which might be too late for the individual in question.

Different communities face different exposures to the same determinants. For instance, a poor community will be forced to rely on single sources of basic needs like water or food, or education, which increases the risk of spreading an illness or risking a break out in such societies. My perspective of poverty and exposure has changed after learning of such a connection, and the bitter part is those wealthy communities, to some extent, push the problems towards the poor ones. For example, a wealthy family might own a factory, employ the poor, and never bother about their working conditions.

Controllable Determinants

In learning about the determinants, I have learned how some of the causal factors can be minimized and put under control with the Community Check Box’s aid. Such factors are;

First, social inclusion directly influences good community health, which can be harnessed through unity and ensuring everyone fits in society. A community can have activities that will bring them together and increase closeness, like charities or games, or social activities of helping each other in certain aspects of life.

Secondly, improving people’s educational level also influences a better way of controlling life aspects and having a better knowledge of tackling such aspects when they turn out negative. Better education also implies better employment status, easing the stress and pressure of low living standards.

Thirdly, the point of income and living standards, as mentioned in the previous point, also influences community health. Creating job opportunities and curbing other factors like family sizes will improve society’s health.

Lastly, the racial and ethnic factors should be balanced to avoid racial abuse, stress, and mistreatment. If a community stays close and provides equality on racial grounds, then health-wise, it will be in the best conditions.

References

Healthy People 2030, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved [date graphic was accessed], from https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/social-determinants-health

Section 5: Addressing Social Determinants of Health and Development (n.d). Community Box, Accessed May 15, 2022, from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/analyze/analyze-community-problems-and-solutions/social-determinants-of-health/main