The Effects of Socio-Economic and Disease-Related Factors on Health - Essay Example

Running head: HEALTH PROMOTION Health Promotion Insert Insert Grade Insert 23 March Health Promotion Introduction Goodhealth in individuals in the society is necessary for all the other forms of development to be achieved in the society. Health promotion is concerned with improvement of the health of the members of a society in general. It is described as the ‘process of enabling people to exert control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health’ (Public Health Agency, 2012). The process aims at enabling individuals to take action and manage their health issues. Health promotion becomes handy in addressing the major health challenges encountered in the developing as well as the developed countries across the globe (Public Health Agency, 2012). Significant developments have been observed in the health promotion measures that are applied in the societies across different countries over the past two centuries. Several factors within the society will have impacts on health of the public. These include the social factors, economic factors, the environmental factors, as well as the factors specific to a given disease or infection (World Health Organization, 2009). Similarly, there may be unequal access to health services or varying social attitudes towards the health services, which also affects effective health promotion measures. This paper focuses on the range of factors related to health, the effects of changing medical and social attitudes on health, and the effects of health promotion on well-being. Some aspects of epidemiology that have been effective in managing diseases in the UK are also examined. The effects of socio-economic, environmental, and disease related factors on health Health refers to the physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of an individual and it is considered at the individual and social contexts. Several factors are essential for good health and these include sufficient economic resources, sufficient food, good shelter, clean water, peace in the society, a stable ecosystem, equity, and social justice among many others (World Health Organization, 2009, p.2; Public Health Agency, 2012). Unfortunately, while some of the factors may be managed by the individuals; other factors may be out of their control thereby relying upon the effectiveness of other agencies like the government. The income and the social status of an individual will determine greatly his or her health (World Health Organization, 2012). Individuals with low income will be unable to obtain quality health services leading to ill health. The low social status worsens the situation as a wide gap is created between the rich and the poor in the society. Poor education is also related to ill health (World Health Organization, 2012). The less educated individuals are ignorant of different healthy standards, access to medical services, or self-management of issues such as stress and depression. The social support networks within a given population and the cultural beliefs and practices within the society also affect health. A proper support from the members of the family, friends, and the society will promote good health in an individual (World Health Organization, 2012). On the contrary, lack of proper support leads to ill health. Similarly, some cultural or religious customs and practices within a community or family such as disbelief on scientific medical intervention contribute to ill health. Individuals in the society have extricable linkages to the environment, which calls for the measures at the international, regional, national or community levels to develop a socio-ecological approach to health (World Health Organization, 2009). The physical environment of an individual is a key determinant of health. Water and air pollution alongside consumption of dirty foods contribute to poor health (World Health Organization, 2012). The individuals have to ensure proper hygiene in food and water consumption. It is also appropriate to have proper waste disposal measures. Similarly, poor working conditions, use of faulty implements, and poor infrastructure to facilitate access of health services contribute to ill health (World Health Organization, 2012). Individuals in remote areas often suffer the difficulty of accessing health services due to poor infrastructure. The genetic factors and factors specific to a given disease or illness can also contribute to poor health. Some forms of illnesses may be passed down from the earlier generations such as the sickle cell disease (Healthy People.gov, 2011). The genetic and biological factors interact with other factors such as age, sex, HIV status to affect the health of an individual. This explains why adults are more prone to ill health than the youths following the physical and cognitive impairments (Healthy People.gov, 2011). Impacts of social and medical attitudes on health issues Health information systems are necessary for the successful operations of health systems across the globe. Proper health information is necessary in detecting the effectiveness of health systems and such information can be obtained through ‘surveillance and response systems focused on epidemic and vaccine-preventable diseases’ (Hotchkiss et al, 2006). The surveillance systems are appropriate in improving the effectiveness for prevention and control programs for vaccine-preventable diseases. However, the attitude of the medical practitioners towards this program contributes largely to its success. The success of these surveillance programs will not only depend on their availability, but also largely on the urge (and willingness) to obtain information, analyze the information, and the use the information to generate appropriate response actions (Hotchkiss et al, 2006). Some earlier study in Georgia indicated that efforts were often made in the health systems to ensure that surveillance data was availed and analyzed but the data could not be used for public health responses (Hotchkiss et al, 2006). In effect, governments, regional and international agencies have been prompted to focus more on the quality and value of health information and availing it to the professionals for use. Similarly, it has been widely known that some disadvantaged population groups have acute health inequalities with poor (disadvantaged) people living shorter lives (Burk, 2009). However, changes have been experienced in social attitudes with more programs advocating for equal access to health services in the society. Different programs advocate for access to health service by the disadvantaged population groups (Burk, 2009). Even though the effect varies across countries, such initiatives have improved health generally. How health education promote well-being in the society Education on health issues as well as general education has positive relations with good health among population groups (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2012). The individuals become enlightened on the healthy eating habits. Health education enables the individuals to understand the importance of environmental protection measures in promoting good health in individuals. Similarly, through health education, individuals become enlightened on their rights as individual to equitable access to health services as well as the available medical interventions that can manage their health conditions. Evidences indicate that individuals with better education have healthier behaviors with respect to smoking, drinking, use of illegal drugs, use of physical exercise, health safety precautions in the house, and the use of preventive medical care (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2012). Individuals with good education are less likely to involve in binge drinking, excessive smoking or use of illegal drugs that contribute to poor health. Such individuals may be quick in testing these drugs but they have proper management and soon give up readily (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2012). The individuals are better positioned to manage chronic infections such as diabetes and hypertension (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2012). Educated individuals observe healthy eating habits and they are less likely to develop obesity Education will also promote management of other epidemics like HIV/AIDS or different strains of cancer. Health education involves concepts such as healthy positive living for those living with HIV/AIDS. Aspects of epidemiology in 20th century that has dealt with diseases in the UK population Epidemiology is concerned with health issues with a focus on the causes, patterns of distribution, and the control measures of diseases in a given human population. It is described as ‘a field of research to advance scientific understanding and also of application of knowledge to control disease and advance public health’ (Schoenbach, 2000). Epidemiology has relations with a number of other disciplines including health promotion and development of health policies. One of the key aspects of epidemiology is that it deals with population with a focus on population proportions, growth rates, mortality, averages (in terms of age, weight, and heights), the heterogeneity within a given population, and the nature of population dynamics (Schoenbach, 2000, p.9). There is great concern on the demographic change recorded in a population. The other aspect is that epidemiology involves comparison of population groups with a focus on the baseline for disease risk, equivalent measurement accuracy, and how to adjust to the differences observed (Schoenbach, 2000). Similarly, epidemiology involves measurement. This requires the definition of the epidemiological phenomena, understanding of the range/spread of the diseases, an analysis of the source of data, and developing a solution strategy (Schoenbach, 2000). Two of the above epidemiological aspects used in the UK in the twentieth century were a study of the population and analysis of time-trend, ecological data, and clinical data that attaches some human action to observed cases of disease and illnesses (Smith & Ebrahim, 2001). In the UK and other developed nations, the application of comparison prevailed in the twentieth century to study the relative risk of an individual to some disease. An analysis on the pattern of tobacco consumption as from the late nineteenth century was advanced to explain cases of cancer that were witnessed later in the western nations (Smith & Ebrahim, 2001). With increased production of cheap cigarette, snuff, tobacco chewing, and pipe smoking decreased while cigarette smoking spread. The widespread uptake of cigarette smoking led to increased levels of cancer mortality. A 1935 time-trend, ecological and clinical data analysis by Fritz Lickint indicated that cancer was caused by cigarette smoking. Some definitive case studies were later published in Germany that supported this, and in 1950, similar definitive case studies were conducted in the UK that further confirmed the earlier findings (Smith & Ebrahim, 2001). This study approach had positive effects in the UK and other developed nations (as the cases of lung cancer were reduced) and negative effects on the developing countries. The notion that smoking was linked to lung cancer and other coronary heart and respiratory diseases led to decreased smoking rates and a fall in lung cancer mortality in some countries (Smith & Ebrahim, 2001). The producers of the products have been forced to look for markets for the products in the developing nations indicating that similar cases of lung cancer are likely to be transferred to these settings. Conclusion Health is essential for all forms of development in the society and this explains the necessity of health promotion programs. Health education is essential as it increases awareness of disease control and protection measures. In the UK, different aspects of studying the occurrences and patterns of diseases have been used to study the possible causes of such infections as well as how to manage them. Individuals in the societies have varying attitudes towards disease surveillance and immunization and this affects the effectiveness of these health promotion approaches. The changing social attitudes that advocate for equality to health services has shown positive results in ensuring better access to such services in different regions across the globe. Reference List Burke, S 2009, ‘Tackling poverty: Tackling health inequalities’, Combat Poverty Agency, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.cpa.ie/publications/TacklingPovertyTacklingHealthInequalities_2009.pdf. Healthy People.gov 2011, Determinants of Health, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/DOHAbout.aspx. Hotchkiss, R, Eisele, T, Djibuti, M, Silvestre, E & Rukhadze, N 2006, ‘Health system barriers to strengthening vaccine-preventable disease surveillance and response in the context of decentralization: evidence from Georgia’, BMC Public Health, 6:175, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/6/175. National Bureau of Economic Research 2012, The Effects of Education on Health, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.nber.org/digest/mar07/w12352.html. Public Health Agency 2012, What is health promotion? Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Healthpromotion/Health/section2.htm. Schoenbach, V 2000, Understanding the Fundamentals of Epidemiology: an evolving text, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.epidemiolog.net/evolving/FundamentalsOfEpidemiology.pdf. Smith, G & Ebrahim, S 2001, ‘Epidemiology—is it time to call it a day?’ International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol.30 No.1; p.1-11, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/1/1.full. World Health Organization 2009, Milestones in Health Promotion: Statements from Global Conferences, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/Milestones_Health_Promotion_05022010.pdf. World Health Organization 2012, Health Impact Assessment (HIA): The determinants of Health, Viewed 23 March 2012, http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/index.html. Read More