UHN tackle such issues as: 1. economic and social marginalization of inhabitants 2. disparate access and use of healthcare systems 3. higher mortality rates from an array of acute and chronic diseases 4. Higher rate of morbidity from preventable diseases (Schim, Benkert, Bell, Walker, & Danford, 2007; pg. 74) Based on these issues UHN deems it necessary to incorporate social justice into the traditional nursing metaparadigm. Social justice in an aspect that is currently not in the profession of nursing. Social justice envisions a society that is equal in all matters to create physical and psychological safety.
Part B The social determinants of health diagram shows how your health is affected by many different social factors. The connections between life conditions and behaviour pose a particular challenge for research. The social determinants of health diagram shows that as you go further down the social ladder in each society life expectancy is shorter and most diseases are a lot more common down the social ladder. Health policies mostly tackle the social and economic determinants of health. A more intense health policy can achieve several things: It defines a vision for the future, which then helps to establish targets and points of reference for a shot term and medium term.
Many Hispanics living in rural area here in the U.S. encounter problems with communicating with health care providers. Accessibility to health care providers by individuals with Medicaid is also a barrier to access of care. These patients experience delays in receiving medical care leaving some of their health care needs unmet (Healthy People 2020). Equity of access to health care refers to the ability to obtain health care being impartial and fair. For example, every one that has the same need will have the same access to care.
Persistent stress from poverty and racism was reported, which creates health risks through physiologic pathways. In order to provide a clear connection to the far-reaching effects of poverty and racism on the social determinants of health, Ecological Theory was used. This theory seems a very broad and complex one and lends itself well to various interpretations accordingly. The authors point out that the version used here is that developed by Sweat and Denison. This iteration has been adapted from the original five stages initially conceptualized by Bronfenbrenner.
What do you propose be done to improve the social determinants of health in Canada? As pointed out earlier, it will be very difficult to improve the social determinants of health in Canada. This is not to say that it is impossible, however it will take a tremendous amount of effort and community teamwork to attain desirable outcomes. Public health workers must advocate for the community members and educate them about the significant impacts of social determinants of health. Dennis Raphael (2009a) proposed that, in addition to their role in the community, public health workers can make a difference in the lives of the community members by encouraging and facilitating them to lobby for health-supporting policies that aim to improve the social
This is also said to have a significant impact both on peoples’ health status and mortality rates. Primary health care services will focus on better health for a population, and actively work to reduce health inequalities between different groups. The Treaty of Waitangi is a key document of Maori health which states that the Crown has an obligation to ensure Maori have a health status which is at least equal to that of non-Maori (WAVE, 2001). Unfortunately this is not currently the case. The mortality rate caused by potentially preventable
Sociologists propose a different cause. They examine patterns within society, and they seek social rather than biological answers and suggest that the differences in health and illness between different groups within society are influenced by social, economic, cultural and political factors. It is from these observations that sociologist believe that “being ill is not a simple thing”. The state of our health is very important to us, we spend a lot of time and money on trying to stay healthy, but what do we mean by “Health”? The World Health Organisation 1955 (WHO) describes heath as “Not the mere absence of disease but total physical, mental and social wellbeing”.
These links between housing and health in supporting the health and well-being of people in their homes are well documented and were highlighted recently in a Welsh Health Circular from the Welsh Assembly Government. They include: • The need to tackle deprivation as well as improving health care services if health is to improve • Investment in housing improvements does impact favourably on the mental health of residents • Respiratory health may be improved through energy efficiency initiatives in the home • Homeless people and other vulnerable groups are likely to suffer worse health but also have greater difficulty in accessing health services than the rest of the population There are a number of housing initiatives and policies already contributing to the
They argued that people 9in the lower social class had a higher population of older people and people working in dangerous industries and others are working in a more traditionally will be expected to have higher levels of illness than the more younger, prosperous working in call centres offices and other service industries. This explanation suggests that it is the social class but the age structure and patterns of employment of the people in the lower social classes that really explains the differences. Furthermore recent studies have shown that even the researcher account for this bias in employment and age, they still have to find a link between higher and lower social class level of illness and the lower life
March 10, 2014 INTRODUCTION AND THESIS STATEMENT The effects of public policy on the social determinants of health are profound, numerous and far-reaching. Social determinants of health refer to the living conditions of individuals and communities, and are a major reflection, of the health outcomes of the population as a whole (Bryant, Raphael, and Rioux, 2010). Social determinants of health also indicate the degree to which a person can have access to the physical, social and personal resources required to satisfy needs and cope with the environment. Some of these resources are income, quality and access to education, food, housing, employment and working conditions, access to health care and social services (Raphael, 2007). Public policy on the other hand dictates what these living conditions will be, that is, favourable or unfavourable for the population.