Chapter One - 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 And 1.7 Flashcards
(20 cards)
Prerequisites For Health
Peace, shelter, education and food
Prerequisites For Health Under The Ottawa Charter For Health Promotion
- Peace
- Shelter
- Education
- Food
- Income
- Stable Ecosystem
- Sustainable Resources
- Social Justice
- Equity
Peace
Can be described as the absence of conflict
When communities are free from conflict, individuals can-
- focus on building their lives
- pursue their goals without the threat of violence or injury
- engage more fully in their daily activities
- experience a reduction in stress and anxiety
Shelter
Adequate shelter is a basic human right and provides a number of benefits to health
These include-
- protection from the elements
- privacy
- safety and security
- reduced risk of disease
- reduced stress and anxiety
- ability to focus on employment and education
- more time to pursue a purposeful and meaningful life
Education
- empowers individuals to take control of their lives
- increases an individuals ability to earn an income
- helps individuals understand health promotion messages
- exhibit healthy behaviours
- helps individuals find meaning and purpose in life
- allows greater access to the resources required to experience high levels of health and wellbeing
- promotes increased levels of literacy
Food
Adequate food intake
This may be promoted by food security (which is the state in which all persons obtain nutritionally adequate, culturally appropriate, safe food regularly through local non-emergency sources)
Food security enhances-
- physical health and wellbeing (increases the ability of individuals to consume the required nutrients
- provides the energy required for individuals to complete daily tasks
- reduces the risk of undernutrition
Adequate nutrition promotes-
- sufficient energy levels
- intellectual capacities
- optimal immune system function
Income
The earning of an individual
Is the underlying factor for many health outcomes
From an individual perspective, income increases the ability to afford resources
From a population perspective, income increases the capacity of governments to provide-
- social services and resources (such as public housing, education and healthcare)
- social security
- infrastructure
- recreation facilities such as parks and gardens
- law and order
Social Justice
Can have many definitions, but the common underlying theme is equal rights for all, regardless of personal traits (such as sex, class and income, ethnicity, religion, age or sexual orientation)
Social justice means that all people are treated fairly and celebrating diversity and promoting the health and wellbeing of all people
Social Justice Resources And Opportunities
When society is just, all people have the same access to resources and opportunities including-
- formal education
- meaningful employment and fair play
- adequate shelter
- social security
- food and water
- healthcare
- recreation and leisure activities
- community participation
Equity
Is a concept that relates to fairness and social justice, but has a particular focus on disadvantaged groups
Equity means-
- disadvantaged groups are targeted to improve their quality of life and achieve minimum standards of living
- all people in the community can have access to fundamental resources
What Is An Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a community that consists of all the living and non-living components of a particular area
The living components include-
- plants
- animals
- micro-organisms (e.g - bacteria)
- non-living components include weather, rocks, soil and watercourses
A Stable Ecosystem
Occurs when balance is achieved between the environment and the species that live in an environment
Stability indicates that all living things are having their needs for food, shelter and reproduction met without causing detrimental effects to the natural environment
United Nations Sustainability Definition
‘Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’
Sustainable Resources
Relate to making sure that the resources used to promote health and wellbeing in the present are still their for future generations
Examples of materials that must be sustainable (if current standards of health and wellbeing are to be maintained) include-
- air
- water
- green energy
- ecosystems
Youth Perspectives On Health And Wellbeing
(The concept of health and wellbeing means different things to people depending on their stage of life)
When young people were asked how much they valued - family relationships, financial security, friendship, getting a job and physical and mental health… family and friendship relationships were the two most highly valued aspects
As a young person’s life experience grows, they start to have a more holistic view on health and wellbeing, rather than a one-dimensional view
Personal Wellbeing Index Findings
Based on the results in FIGURE 1.31, the majority of young people interviewed were in the normal range for the Personal Wellbeing Index.
VicHealth has also identified factors associated with young people who have above average health and wellbeing. Findings suggest that these factors fit into the following categories-
- participation in sport and recreation
- access to social support
- a higher socioeconomic status background
These are compared with young people with a below average PWI, who are more likely to-
- have limited access to social support
- be unemployed
- come from lower-income households
- live alone
Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Perspectives On Health And Wellbeing
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples view health and wellbeing in a holistic manner
‘Aboriginal wellbeing means not just the physical wellbeing of an individual but refers to the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing of the whole Community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential as a human being, thereby bringing about the total wellbeing of their Community. It is a whole-of-life view and includes the cyclical concept of life–death–life’
Importance Of Culture
According to the Closing the Gap campaign, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with a strong attachment to culture have significantly better self-assessed health status
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2013–2023 identifies the importance of the link to culture in improving health and wellbeing
It states that –
- being connected to culture, family and land contributes to significantly lower morbidity and mortality in remote communities.
- residents of communities in which traditional languages and cultural practices are valued and maintained are less likely to be obese, less likely to have diabetes and less prone to cardiovascular disease than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the rest of the Northern Territory
Connection To Land
Along with culture, land is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The land is the core of their existence; it is their connection and spiritual relationship to Country, which explains their identity
Land is central to health and wellbeing and when the harmony of this relationship is disrupted, ill health may occur. It gives them their identity and a sense of belonging
Land or Country is the soul of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It has also been referred to as their ‘second skin’. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples believe it is their duty to care for the land, and in caring for the land they are strengthening their cultures and health and wellbeing
Social And Emotional Health And Wellbeing
Social and emotional health and wellbeing is a holistic concept that recognises the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality, ancestry, family and community, and how these affect the individual
These Include-
- body
- mind and emotion
- country
- community
- culture
- family and kinship
- spirit, spirituality, ancestors
