Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
The Social Determinants of Health Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Social Determinants of Health
How Social Determinants affects our Health
The social determinants of health refer to Economic Stability meaning level of income (high or low income), type of employment (cleaner or teacher), and ability to afford medical support (medical aid).
Education is another determinant which indicates whether a person is literate or not, his/hers ability to speak one or two languages, or access to higher education. Being illiterate can restrict people from qualifying for higher education or for any specific work.
Neighborhood and Physical Environment is about access to transportation, type of housing, ability to walk around the physical environment like a walkway for strolling down the street. These are all factors considering the environment people live in and the level of safety that allows them to live freely.
Community and Social Context refers to the mixing of people from different societies and what holds us together eg. religious beliefs, in order to live as a community. People don't necessarily need to agree with each other in order to live together. Support groups such as therapy group sessions is a way to bring people together and community engagement where society takes part in building awareness or completing a task together (beach cleanup; picking up trash as a group for a better and greener future).
Health Care Systems is another factor that dictates the health of a community. The access to health care facilities, the level of health coverage such as medical aid, as well as quality of service provided can all determine whether or not an individual can cope being sick and manage the finances to be treated.
Education is another determinant which indicates whether a person is literate or not, his/hers ability to speak one or two languages, or access to higher education. Being illiterate can restrict people from qualifying for higher education or for any specific work.
Neighborhood and Physical Environment is about access to transportation, type of housing, ability to walk around the physical environment like a walkway for strolling down the street. These are all factors considering the environment people live in and the level of safety that allows them to live freely.
Community and Social Context refers to the mixing of people from different societies and what holds us together eg. religious beliefs, in order to live as a community. People don't necessarily need to agree with each other in order to live together. Support groups such as therapy group sessions is a way to bring people together and community engagement where society takes part in building awareness or completing a task together (beach cleanup; picking up trash as a group for a better and greener future).
Health Care Systems is another factor that dictates the health of a community. The access to health care facilities, the level of health coverage such as medical aid, as well as quality of service provided can all determine whether or not an individual can cope being sick and manage the finances to be treated.
If we look at a Doctor or Professor, who has a medium to high income, and their level of health , mentally, physically and socially, we'd consider him/her fairly healthy. This is because he/she is able to to take care of themselves financially and even build a family as well as provide food, education and housing for his/her family at an adequate standard.
A high income family is likely to have a good educational background plus the finances to cover medical expenses, plus a high quality hospital/clinic which gives them access to top specialists, which will then keep the families health in a satisfactory condition. They are also able to access mental and psychological help which is more on the pricey side and therefore not everyone can afford it. Their type of housing will probably allow every individual of the family to have some privacy and enough space for dining and sleeping.
The living environment is most likely to be in a safe neighborhood which may be a gated community with security 24/7. This allows for children and parents to stroll freely on the sidewalks without that stress of someone kidnapping their children. It is healthier for children to grow up in an environment this safe as it allows them to be confident, not hold back and not be afraid of the world.
Looking at a low income worker such as a cashier at Pick n Pay might not have such healthy lifestyle in terms of housing, medical aid, or access to higher education.
Due to a low income, providing housing for oneself might be difficult due limited finances and may lead to sharing accommodation or living in cramped households due to high numbers of family. This can lead to mental struggles such as depression especially if living in a negative household. Ability to afford adequate medical care might be challenging which can result in untreated illnesses and might further expose individuals to chronic diseases. Housing may be at a low standard like illegal settlements such as shanties as well as living in cramped conditions. Crime rates tend to be high in environments that lack security or non gated communities. Obviously this is due to inability to afford such services so therefore, can only be accessed by richer people. Without security-related services, it is open to robberies and kidnapping which explains why low income settlements have high crime rates. Furthermore, this creates an unsafe environment for children and adolescent and can become dangerous and fatal. Children are likely to follow bad deeds such as robbing and even drugs which can impact their life to an extent where they cannot finish high school or qualify for tertiary studies.
A high income family is likely to have a good educational background plus the finances to cover medical expenses, plus a high quality hospital/clinic which gives them access to top specialists, which will then keep the families health in a satisfactory condition. They are also able to access mental and psychological help which is more on the pricey side and therefore not everyone can afford it. Their type of housing will probably allow every individual of the family to have some privacy and enough space for dining and sleeping.
The living environment is most likely to be in a safe neighborhood which may be a gated community with security 24/7. This allows for children and parents to stroll freely on the sidewalks without that stress of someone kidnapping their children. It is healthier for children to grow up in an environment this safe as it allows them to be confident, not hold back and not be afraid of the world.
Looking at a low income worker such as a cashier at Pick n Pay might not have such healthy lifestyle in terms of housing, medical aid, or access to higher education.
Due to a low income, providing housing for oneself might be difficult due limited finances and may lead to sharing accommodation or living in cramped households due to high numbers of family. This can lead to mental struggles such as depression especially if living in a negative household. Ability to afford adequate medical care might be challenging which can result in untreated illnesses and might further expose individuals to chronic diseases. Housing may be at a low standard like illegal settlements such as shanties as well as living in cramped conditions. Crime rates tend to be high in environments that lack security or non gated communities. Obviously this is due to inability to afford such services so therefore, can only be accessed by richer people. Without security-related services, it is open to robberies and kidnapping which explains why low income settlements have high crime rates. Furthermore, this creates an unsafe environment for children and adolescent and can become dangerous and fatal. Children are likely to follow bad deeds such as robbing and even drugs which can impact their life to an extent where they cannot finish high school or qualify for tertiary studies.
How Social Determinants affects our Health
If we look at a Doctor or Professor, who has a medium to high income, and their level of health , mentally, physically and socially, we'd consider him/her fairly healthy. This is because he/she is able to to take care of themselves financially and even build a family as well as provide food, education and housing for his/her family at an adequate standard.
A high income family is likely to have a good educational background plus the finances to cover medical expenses, plus a high quality hospital/clinic which gives them access to top specialists, which will then keep the families health in a satisfactory condition. They are also able to access mental and psychological help which is more on the pricey side and therefore not everyone can afford it. Their type of housing will probably allow every individual of the family to have some privacy and enough space for dining and sleeping.
The living environment is most likely to be in a safe neighborhood which may be a gated community with security 24/7. This allows for children and parents to stroll freely on the sidewalks without that stress of someone kidnapping their children. It is healthier for children to grow up in an environment this safe as it allows them to be confident, not hold back and not be afraid of the world.
Looking at a low income worker such as a cashier at Pick n Pay might not have such healthy lifestyle in terms of housing, medical aid, or access to higher education.
Due to a low income, providing housing for oneself might be difficult due limited finances and may lead to sharing accommodation or living in cramped households due to high numbers of family. This can lead to mental struggles such as depression especially if living in a negative household. Ability to afford adequate medical care might be challenging which can result in untreated illnesses and might further expose individuals to chronic diseases. Housing may be at a low standard like illegal settlements such as shanties as well as living in cramped conditions. Crime rates tend to be high in environments that lack security or non gated communities. Obviously this is due to inability to afford such services so therefore, can only be accessed by richer people. Without security-related services, it is open to robberies and kidnapping which explains why low income settlements have high crime rates. Furthermore, this creates an unsafe environment for children and adolescent and can become dangerous and fatal. Children are likely to follow bad deeds such as robbing and even drugs which can impact their life to an extent where they cannot finish high school or qualify for tertiary studies.
A high income family is likely to have a good educational background plus the finances to cover medical expenses, plus a high quality hospital/clinic which gives them access to top specialists, which will then keep the families health in a satisfactory condition. They are also able to access mental and psychological help which is more on the pricey side and therefore not everyone can afford it. Their type of housing will probably allow every individual of the family to have some privacy and enough space for dining and sleeping.
The living environment is most likely to be in a safe neighborhood which may be a gated community with security 24/7. This allows for children and parents to stroll freely on the sidewalks without that stress of someone kidnapping their children. It is healthier for children to grow up in an environment this safe as it allows them to be confident, not hold back and not be afraid of the world.
Looking at a low income worker such as a cashier at Pick n Pay might not have such healthy lifestyle in terms of housing, medical aid, or access to higher education.
Due to a low income, providing housing for oneself might be difficult due limited finances and may lead to sharing accommodation or living in cramped households due to high numbers of family. This can lead to mental struggles such as depression especially if living in a negative household. Ability to afford adequate medical care might be challenging which can result in untreated illnesses and might further expose individuals to chronic diseases. Housing may be at a low standard like illegal settlements such as shanties as well as living in cramped conditions. Crime rates tend to be high in environments that lack security or non gated communities. Obviously this is due to inability to afford such services so therefore, can only be accessed by richer people. Without security-related services, it is open to robberies and kidnapping which explains why low income settlements have high crime rates. Furthermore, this creates an unsafe environment for children and adolescent and can become dangerous and fatal. Children are likely to follow bad deeds such as robbing and even drugs which can impact their life to an extent where they cannot finish high school or qualify for tertiary studies.
Apartheid and its Social Determinants
Apartheid, in South Africa, was "a system of legislation that upheld segregationist policies against non-white citizens of South Africa", states History.com Editors in 2010. It was a time in history where society was split due to the color of their skin such as "the Coloureds", "the Blacks", "the Indians" and "the Whites"
Apartheid was a dream for whites and nightmare for blacks and people of color. Life for the black community was unpleasant due to oppressive laws and restricted freedom. The white community used the black community as a cheap labour to contribute to the countries wealth. If blacks were not working, they were considered as unproductive. (Unterhalter, 1990)
The black community was forced to live on the outskirts of the urban area in poor housing conditions that possibly took a toll on their mental health. There was hardly any available running water and electricity making it hard to shower, drink or clean stuff on a daily basis. This can become extremely unhygienic as to not being able to shower and cleanse oneself, grooming also therefore became limited. No electricity meant no electrical appliances could be used such as a kettle, tv or microwave. This restricted the community from having any warm/hot meals besides the ones made on a fire/gas stove.
Overcrowding was another issue faced in the community and housing being far apart from each other. This increased their journey time in and out of the city and also contributed to daily frustration and stress. Living close to one another also increases chance of diseases spreading due to the close proximity between neighbours.
Due to living on the outskirts, medical services weren't available so far out of the city. This was dangerous, even fatal, as to when people needed medical attention, it was simple unavailable and was quite a distance to travel to. This drastically affected the physical health of black communities. Poor housing and unhygienic environments, lack of medical services, and poverty lead to high stats of malnutrition, infirmity.
The black community was forced to live on the outskirts of the urban area in poor housing conditions that possibly took a toll on their mental health. There was hardly any available running water and electricity making it hard to shower, drink or clean stuff on a daily basis. This can become extremely unhygienic as to not being able to shower and cleanse oneself, grooming also therefore became limited. No electricity meant no electrical appliances could be used such as a kettle, tv or microwave. This restricted the community from having any warm/hot meals besides the ones made on a fire/gas stove.
Overcrowding was another issue faced in the community and housing being far apart from each other. This increased their journey time in and out of the city and also contributed to daily frustration and stress. Living close to one another also increases chance of diseases spreading due to the close proximity between neighbours.
Due to living on the outskirts, medical services weren't available so far out of the city. This was dangerous, even fatal, as to when people needed medical attention, it was simple unavailable and was quite a distance to travel to. This drastically affected the physical health of black communities. Poor housing and unhygienic environments, lack of medical services, and poverty lead to high stats of malnutrition, infirmity.
Lack of medical services and poor diets also contributed to the high infant mortality rate due to inability to access nurses and doctors. Due to being mistreated by the white community, there's been an increasing lack of trust and social barrier. Mentally it was portrayed that whites are better than blacks which in todays age everyone is equal and no one is better than the other.
Dr. Tom Ward concludes that poverty has a drastic affect on an individuals health which is 100% correct. In the Apartheid era, many individuals suffered from lack of basic things which impacted their mental and physical health. Overall the black community had a lower life expectancy because they lived under restricted rights and lacked freedom. In other words, a white person lived longer than a black person simply due to receiving immediate medical care and affording a healthier nutritional diet. It is proved through several historic situations, other than Apartheid, where mistreating people can hugely discourage their health, mentally, physically and socially.
Dr. Tom Ward concludes that poverty has a drastic affect on an individuals health which is 100% correct. In the Apartheid era, many individuals suffered from lack of basic things which impacted their mental and physical health. Overall the black community had a lower life expectancy because they lived under restricted rights and lacked freedom. In other words, a white person lived longer than a black person simply due to receiving immediate medical care and affording a healthier nutritional diet. It is proved through several historic situations, other than Apartheid, where mistreating people can hugely discourage their health, mentally, physically and socially.
Lack of medical services and poor diets also contributed to the high infant mortality rate due to inability to access nurses and doctors. Due to being mistreated by the white community, there's been an increasing lack of trust and social barrier. Mentally it was portrayed that whites are better than blacks which in todays age everyone is equal and no one is better than the other.
Dr. Tom Ward concludes that poverty has a drastic affect on an individuals health which is 100% correct. In the Apartheid era, many individuals suffered from lack of basic things which impacted their mental and physical health. Overall the black community had a lower life expectancy because they lived under restricted rights and lacked freedom. In other words, a white person lived longer than a black person simply due to receiving immediate medical care and affording a healthier nutritional diet. It is proved through several historic situations, other than Apartheid, where mistreating people can hugely discourage their health, mentally, physically and socially.
Dr. Tom Ward concludes that poverty has a drastic affect on an individuals health which is 100% correct. In the Apartheid era, many individuals suffered from lack of basic things which impacted their mental and physical health. Overall the black community had a lower life expectancy because they lived under restricted rights and lacked freedom. In other words, a white person lived longer than a black person simply due to receiving immediate medical care and affording a healthier nutritional diet. It is proved through several historic situations, other than Apartheid, where mistreating people can hugely discourage their health, mentally, physically and socially.
References
No author. (2010). Apartheid. History.com. [online]
https://www.history.com/topics/africa/apartheid
Taitt, A. Lenora. (1980). The impact of Apartheid on Family Life in South Africa. Aluka.
http://psimg.jstor.org/fsi/img/pdf/t0/10.5555/al.sff.document.nuun1980_31_final.pdf
https://www.history.com/topics/africa/apartheid
Taitt, A. Lenora. (1980). The impact of Apartheid on Family Life in South Africa. Aluka.
http://psimg.jstor.org/fsi/img/pdf/t0/10.5555/al.sff.document.nuun1980_31_final.pdf