What influences the health of individuals? Derterminants of Health Flashcards
DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
INDIVIDUAL / SOCIO-CULTURAL / SOCIO-ECONOMIC / ENVIRONMENTAL
INDIVIDUAL FACTORS
Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes:
It enables people to recognise health problems (in themselves and others), make choices about behaviours and access health services when required.
People’s health related knowledge, skills & attitudes towards health can influence their health behaviours & consequently their present & future health status.
Genetics
Genes passed on to us by our biological parents can influence our health e.g. asthma, type 1 diabetes.
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS
- FAMILY
- PEERS
- MEDIA
- RELIGION
- CULTURE
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS: FAMILY
Family, including its structure has a strong impact on the health and well being of children and their parents.
E.g. Married people tend to be healthier and live longer than those who are unmarried.
Children and young people in lone parent households have poorer health than those in two parent households. The ‘material’ disadvantage seems to be the larger predictor here rather than the family structure.
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS: PEERS
Most individuals have a social need for acceptance.
Therefore they seek companionship, support, approval and acceptance from others.
A persons peers may have a positive or negative effect on a person’s decision making
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS: MEDIA
The media have a huge role in shaping how we see the world.
It influences our socialisation, values, development, opinions and knowledge.
The media exposes us to so much, often contradictory information that it is easy to become overwhelmed.
It is important to be discerning when receiving information through the media.
The effect of the media can be subtle, affecting us even when we are not fully aware that it is doing so.
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS: RELIGION
Religion has health enhancing benefits, including social support, a sense of meaning and purpose, a belief system and a clear moral code.
In some instances religion can be viewed as judgemental , alienating and exclusive. E.g. A religion may exclude a young person who is same sex attracted.
While religion may provide many health benefits, this may not be true in all circumstances.
Young people may feel guilt due to their failure to meet religious expectations, such as abstain from sexual relationships before marriage. – These influences could lead to poor health.
SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS: CULTURE
For many culture is central to health and well being.
Cultural factors can have both positive and negative impacts on health.
Social exclusion and isolation affect the health status of some ethnic groups.
Language difficulties and certain cultural health beliefs and practices have a significant impact on health literacy, including access to health services.
To meet the needs of people from ethnic minority groups, health services must increase access to culturally and linguistically relevant health promotion programs.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
- EMPLOYMENT
- EDUCATION
- INCOME
People or groups who are socially and economically disadvantaged tend to have worse health. (general trend)
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS: EMPLOYMENT
Employment status, particularly unemployment is strongly related to health status.
Unemployed people have higher mortality and more illness/disability than those who are employed.
Effects:
- ability to buy health related goods
- strong psychological and social impacts such as alienation and poor self esteem.
With the employed, there is a relationship between occupation and health. Generally managerial and professional occupations have higher levels of health than manual low skilled jobs.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS: EDUCATION
Higher levels of education are related to higher income and better employment prospects.
Higher education also provides knowledge and skills that allow a person to achieve a healthy lifestyle and gain better access to health services.
If people are less likely or able to invest time and effort into education then they may also be less likely to engage in healthy behaviours or avoid risks.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS: INCOME
Income can have an impact on an individual’s level of health.
Much of this relationship appears to be due to the association between income, education and occupation.
People with a high level of education are more likely to be employed in a white collar professional job which tends to have higher incomes than unskilled workers.
High incomes increase access to goods and services beneficial to health including health care, better housing and preventative health measures such as joining a fitness centre
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
- GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
- ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
- TECHNOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: GEO. LOCATION
RURAL:
- ability to access health care services and information. - Specialist diagnostic services (identifying nature/cause of illness) are often unavailable in these areas.
- lower incomes than city dwellers
So these factors combined can make it difficult for rural residents to access health professionals.
- high levels of alcohol consumption and smoking
- for young rural males the suicide rate is significantly elevated
