Determinants of health.pptx
- 1. DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH & ILLNESS
- 2. Many factors combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities. Whether people are healthy or not, is determined by their circumstances and environment. To a large extent, factors such as where we live, the state of our environment, genetics, our income and education level, and our relationships with friends and family all have considerable impacts on health. These include: Physical factors Chemical factors Genetic factors Social factors Individual characteristics and behaviours.
- 3. Physical Factors Examples of physical determinants are: Natural environment, such as plants, weather, or climate change Built environment, such as buildings or transportation Worksites, schools, and recreational settings Housing, homes, and neighborhoods Exposure to physical hazards Physical barriers, especially for people with disabilities Aesthetic elements, such as good lighting, trees, or benches Exposures to contaminants in air, water, food and soil, are associated with many chronic diseases and with emerging communicable diseases. Climate change and the associated weather extremes will also affect health: hyperthermia from extreme heat, injury from extreme wind and rain. Changing distribution of vectors and infectious agents- introducing disease to previously unaffected regions.
- 4. Chemical Factors Air pollutants can also cause climate change which will affect communities differently. People in urban centres do not enjoy good air quality. Indoor air may contain constituents such as asbestos, moulds, radon gas, carbon monoxide and methane that affect health. E.g. in counties where ozone pollution is high, there is often a higher prevalence of asthma in both adults and children compared with state and national averages. Poor air quality can worsen asthma symptoms, especially in children. ‘The sick building syndrome’ describes a range of ailments related to living or working in closed buildings with poor air quality. Another threat to healthy indoor air quality is tobacco smoke, especially for children living in the homes of smokers. These children experience more asthma and bronchitis; they are at a higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome and have more lung and ear infections than children living in homes without tobacco smoke.
- 5. Social Factors Examples of social factors include: Availability of resources to meet daily needs, such as educational and job opportunities, living wages, or healthful foods Social norms and attitudes, such as discrimination Exposure to crime, violence, and social disorder Social support and social interactions Exposure to mass media & emerging technologies, such as Internet or cell phones Socioeconomic conditions, such as concentrated poverty Quality schools Transportation options Public safety, Residential segregation Culture - customs and traditions Access to health services
- 6. Absolute poverty refers to having inadequate resources to meet basic needs for shelter, nutritious food, clothing, and education. People living in poverty lack the resources and opportunities to make choices that promote good health. Being poor may also expose them to inferior physical environments that place them at risk for health problems. Absolute poverty is the leading health determinant in low- income countries; infants and children are particularly susceptible to its effects. Education Low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence. Education also has a more direct influence on health in that it affects a person’s ability to navigate the health care system, to interpret health information and to communicate effectively with health professionals. ‘Health literacy’ refers to the patient’s ability to understand health information and to follow guidelines for their treatment. Employment:Employed people are healthier, particularly those who have more control over their working conditions. The WHO recognizes fair employment and decent work as a cornerstone of health, and advocates for fair minimum wages, full employment, and occupational health and safety standards. Work-related diseases, caused or exacerbated by the patient’s work, are derived from the amount of a person’s perceived control over demands at work, their work satisfaction, perceived levels of physical risk, and job security. Social Support Network This refers to support from families, friends and communities. It is linked to better health. It is a source of emotional reassurance and provides a safe place for a person to discuss his problems, which helps him to cope with adversity. It provides information and practical support, such as knowing someone who can assist in a time of need. It can also support people in making healthier behaviour choices.
- 7. Health Services Access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influences health. Both access to health services and the quality of health services can impact health. Lack of access, or limited access, to health services greatly impacts an individual’s health status. For example, when individuals do not have health insurance, they are less likely to participate in preventive care and are more likely to delay medical treatment. Barriers to accessing health services include: Lack of availability, High cost, Lack of insurance coverage, Limited language access These barriers to accessing health services lead to: Unmet health needs, Delays in receiving appropriate care, Inability to get preventive services, Hospitalizations that could have been prevented
- 8. Individual Characteristics and Behaviours. Individual behavior also plays a role in health outcomes. For example, if an individual quits smoking, his or her risk of developing heart disease is greatly reduced. Examples of individual behavior determinants of health include: Diet,Physical activity, Alcohol, cigarette, and other drug use ,Hand washing Biological and Genetic Makeup Inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses, personal behaviour and coping skills. Some biological and genetic factors affect specific populations more than others. E.g., older adults are biologically prone to poorer health than adolescents due to effects of aging. Sickle cell disease is a common example of a genetic determinant of health. Gender: Gender refers to "the array of socially constructed roles and relationships, personality traits, attitudes, behaviours, values, relative power and influence that society ascribes to the two sexes on a differential basis.“ Men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages. Examples include the exploitation of women in the sex trade, underage marriage, or the work conditions in sweat shops in the garment industry. Single parents are almost always women, the lower income of women also affects their children.
- 9. Individual Characteristics contd – Early Childhood Development: Early nutrition, physical development and fitness are important, as is emotional development which, if positive, builds resiliency, and if negative, enhances vulnerability. Timing of exposures and experiences can be critical. For example, traumatic experiences in early childhood shape personality and have a lasting impact on how a person views his world, how he relates to others, and how he interprets events. The impact of broken homes, chronic childhood stresses etc. have non-specific effects, acting mainly to increase emotional vulnerability in adult life. (STORY OF JANE)