1. Determinants of Health
Determinants of HealthSeveral factors or issues combine together to impact on the health of
communities, individuals and the globe at large. Circumstances and environment determine
the health of the people or a nation. According to Bui & Markle (2007) to a greater extent,
certain factors such as the state of the physical environment where people live, genetics,
education level, income, people’ s relationship with family, and friends all have a significant
effect on health. The more considered factors like use and access to health services have
little impact on health. The discussion will put more emphasizes on determinants of health
which include the social/economic factors, physical/ environmental issues and
characteristics/ behaviour of the individual and how such factors affect health at local,
national and global level.2.0 Discussion2.1 Socio-economic factorsSocio-economic
determinants of health are situations or conditions in which a person is born, live, grow, age
and work including social or health systems. Such circumstances are tailored by the
distribution of resources, power, and money at local, national and global levels, which
themselves are precipitated by policy choices. Martin, (2007) argues that socio-economic
determinants of health accounts for the health inequalities, unavoidable and unfair
disparities in health status observed between and within nations. Such inequalities affect
the global distribution of food, medical care, medical experts, housing conditions,
environmental vulnerability, cultural issues and norms and how they increase an
individual’ s vulnerability to ill health. They also cause differential rate in mortality rate,
morbidity rates, and life expectancy of people within and between nations.Similarly, the
global context determines how communities prosper through its effects on domestic norms,
policies, and international relations. Such factors in turn shape how the society, at local and
national level, organizes and structure its affairs, resulting to forms of social ranks and
hierarchy (Disease Control Priorities Project, n.da). The position of an individual in the
social hierarchy influences the conditions, in which they live, grow, work, age, and learn. It
also affects their susceptibility to ill health and the impacts of ill health.In response to the
increasing concern about the widening and persisting health inequalities between nations,
WHO, in 2005 established a commission on Social determinants of health to give advice on
how to bridge the gap between nations. The main objective of the commission was to
improve the living conditions, promote equitable distribution of power, resources and
money and measure and internalize the problem and access the effects of the action. The
Commission also emphasized on the ’ cause of the causes’ – the social and economic
factors which affect how people age, grow and live. The underlying determinants of health
2. inequities are intertwined and thus, they must be addressed through comprehensive and
integrated policies, responsive to the context of each region and country.Global Health
inequalities between nations have brought together nations in discussions with the aim of
improving health equity, through addressing the socio-economic determinants of health.
For example, WHO joins forces with a wide range of networks and organizations globally
that are devoted to this agenda. For instance, the Commission of social determinant of
health was a significant global process, bringing together many of practitioners and
researchers from research institutions and universities, government ministries, and civil
society and international and organizations.2.2 Physical/ environmental
issuesEnvironmental disasters accounts for approximately a quarter of the total disease
burden globally and more than one-third of the burden among children. The dominating
diseases are like lower respiratory infections, diarrhea, malaria, and different forms of
unintentional injuries. The burden of disease is much greater in the third world, although in
some cases of particular non-communicable diseases, like cancers and cardiovascular
diseases; the per capita burden of disease is higher in developed nations (Disease Control
Priorities Project, n.db). Health effects of environmental hazards amount for more than 80
diseases and forms of injury. Well-targeted/ planned interventions can control a number of
this environmental risk. Globally, approximately 13 million deaths could be controlled
yearly by creating healthier environments.Air pollution poses a significant health threat
globally for example, pneumonia, and chronic respiratory diseases among children and
adult respectively. Yearly, natural calamities such as droughts, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, heat waves, wildfires, tsunamis, floods and landslides kill approximately 90
000 people and affect around160 million people globally. Calamities have a fatal immediate
impact on peoples’ lives and result in the destruction of the biological, social and physical
environment of the people affected, thus causing longer-term effect on the well-being,
survival, and health of victims (Bui & Markle 2007).Disease and health burden from disease
outbreaks, disasters, and emergencies linked to environmental risk causes can be
significantly minimized by effective preparedness, response, and prevention capacities.
WHO seeks to strengthen the countries’ capacity particularly third world countries and
those undergoing economic transition, to prevent environmental health problems in
emergencies and support them during emergencies if need be.2.3 Characteristic/ behaviour
of individualsThe context of human lives affects their health status, and so crediting people
for good health or blaming them for poor health is inappropriate. People beliefs, cultural
norms, values, institutions, and morals significantly influence their definition of health and
health seeking behavior (Disease Control Priorities Project, n.dc). People do not have a
directly control over many of the health determinants factors. The determinants that make
people healthy or unhealthy include factors such as higher income and social status which
are linked to better health, balanced diet, proper housing condition, adequate resources to
seek medical care and access to health services. The wider the gap between the poorest and
richest people, the wider is the disparity in health. People with low education levels are
linked with, more stress, poor accessibility to health services, low self-confidence, and
hence poor health. Employed people or working class are healthier, especially those with
more control over their working conditions than unemployed people.Social support
3. networks from communities, friends, and families are linked to better health. Genetics of a
person like genetic inheritance plays a leading role in determining healthiness, lifespan, and
the possibility of developing certain illnesses. Finally, individual’ s coping skills and
behaviour such as keeping active, balanced eating, drinking, smoking, and how he/she deal
with life’ s challenges and stresses all affect health. Ones access and use of health services to
treat and prevent disease influences health and so do gender. Women and men suffer from
different kinds of diseases at different ages; also their gender differences influence their
access to health facilities and health seeking behaviour (Martin, 2007).3.0 Summary of key
pointsHealth determines an individual’ s state of mental, social, and physical. Currently the
issue of health has attracted global attention, and the efforts and support contributed by
world governments and leaders towards the attainment of quality health for all, cannot be
overlooked. This is because better healthiness makes a crucial contribution to economic
prosperity, as healthy citizens are more productive, save more and live longer.4.0
RecommendationEconomic sectors like housing, agriculture, and transport, have an
enormous effect on health. For example, transport is a crucial factor in air pollution, noise,
and traffic injuries, but “ healthy/better transport policies” can significantly minimized
these risks and improve cycling and walking. In agriculture, pesticides and fertilizers may
precipitate crop yields. Better and wise chemical use is paramount to protect consumers
and farm workers from excessive exposure to chemicals (World Health Organization, n.d).
Creation of healthy and disease free environment through environmental conservation
measures is paramount.There is need for the formation of comprehensive and integrated
policies that are responsive to the context of each region and country to address global
health inequalities, (Ruggeri, 2004). There is need for promotion of education for all,
creation of employment opportunities, health services, as well as accessibility to health care
services to all citizens irrespective of gender, sex, and race around the globe to help
eradicate poverty, promote development and healthy community.5.0 ReferencesBui, T. D. &
Markle, W. H. (2007). Global health: past, present and future. In Markle, W. H., Fisher, M., &
Smego, R. A. (Eds), Understanding global health (pp. 19-36). The McGraw-Hill, Columbus,
OH. Retrieved from:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47566859/Understanding%20Global%20Health%20Chapter%2
02.pdf on 01-17-2012Disease Control Priorities Project, n.da. “ Priorities in Health.”
Retrieved on 17th Jan. 2012, from: http://www.dcp2.org/pubs/PIHDisease Control
Priorities Project, n.db. “ Global Burden of Disease.” Retrieved on 17th Jan. 2012, from:
http://www.dcp2.org/pubs/GBDDisease Control Priorities Project, n.dc. “ Disease Control
Priorities.” Retrieved on 17th Jan. 2012, from: http://www.dcp2.org/pubs/PIHMartin, C.
(2007). Global health: past, present and future. In Markle, W. H., Fisher, M., & Smego, R. A.
(Eds), Understanding global health (pp. 37-60). The McGraw-Hill, Columbus, OH. Retrieved
from:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/47566859/Understanding%20Global%20Health%20Chapter%2
03.pdf on 01-17-2012.World Health Organization. “ 10 facts on the global burden of
disease.” Retrieved on 17th Jan. 2012, from:
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/global_burden/facts/en/index.html
