The Social Determinants of Health in the Shape-Up Australia Campaign - Literature review Example

Assignment Name: Institute: Introduction Social determinants of health are defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the circumstances wherein individuals are born, grow, stay, as well as work (Macdonald, 2010). Such conditions are shaped by the distribution resources, power and money at local, national, and global levels. Basically, the social determinants of health are by and large accountable for health inequities, which as per Friel (2009) is the inequitable and unnecessary disparities in status of health observed between as well as within countries. In Australia, Hajizadeh et al. (2014) posit that Australians are subject to the same form of social shortcoming as it can happen in cities (like job ambiguities and joblessness, lower educational achievement, poor access to proper accommodation and so forth). Still, in remote and rural communities the health impacts of this shortcoming are compounded by environmental setbacks (like famine, bushfire, and floods) and poor communications access (like transport, cell phone coverage, and high speed broadband). Shape-Up Australia Campaign is an Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) initiative for handling Australia’s increasing obesity and overweight epidemic. Shape-up Australia aspires to decrease the incidence and effect of chronic disease caused by people’s way of life by coordinating efforts at national level to reinforce and better administer hale and hearty lifestyle as well as activities for obesity prevention across every level of government and not-for-profits sectors (Shapeup.gov.au, 2013). Shape Up Australia Campaign Programs, information, and services that bear the Shape-Up Australia brand have met particular eligibility criterion, which includes aligning with the national Physical Activity Guidelines as well as Australian Dietary Guidelines. This way, people in Australia can be certain that when they spot the brand of Shape-Up Australia they will be served effectively. Shape-Up Australia branded programs, services and information as per Shapeup.gov.au (2013) will motivate Australians to: comprehend and start maintaining a weight that is healthy and steer clear of weight gain that is not healthful to decrease the risk of chronic disease brought about by lifestyle; remain physically active as per the national Physical Activity Guideline; eat as per the Australian Dietary Guidelines; reduce consumption of sugared beverages and instead drink a lot of water; and administer their portion sizes as well as start to comprehend their energy requirements in terms of kilojoules Shape-Up Australia is as well decreasing doubling-up of expenses and effort across not-for-profit as well as government sectors by sharing market resources together with research, providing co- opportunities for branding partnership, and motivating a nationwide reliable and facts established approach to obesity as well as overweight prevention messaging, to decrease confusion amongst the public with regard to healthy lifestyle as well as eating. Shape-Up Australia is at this moment working with co-branding associates from public health not-for-profit and state governments’ organizations, Medicare organizations that promote health at local and community level, and making use of healthy lifestyle resources as well as messages created by means of national formative research by Shape-Up Australia. What’s more, Shape Up Australia has lately taken part in development of advertising campaign for the Queensland Government’s novel obesity prevention, re-development of the forthcoming Get Healthy telephone service campaign for New South Wales Government, as well as the development of the Ways To Well-being, which is an obesity prevention social marketing campaign for Australian Capital Territory, all by means of the Shape Up Australia resources (Shapeup.gov.au, 2013). Health Equity in Australia In general, Australians enjoy good health, but according to Friel (2009) this good health is not evenly shared. There subsist considerable discrepancies in the health of certain Australian population, which includes discrepancies in disease and death rates; self professed health; health conducts; utilisation of health service; and life expectancy. Such h inequities in health are connected with discrepancies in wages, job status, education, profession, rurality, gender and Aboriginality, as well as way of life. The phrase health inequality by and large denotes the discrepancies in health attributable to free choice or biological differences. According to Macdonald (2010), health inequity’ in general refers to variations in health attributable to the external surroundings as well as circumstances mostly outside the ability of the people. Obesity as per Shape-Up Australia is a risk factor for the majority of health burden in Australia, as well as the health-care system is extremely strained. Individuals with a smaller amount of money, unsafe working conditions, less education, deprived living conditions as well as frequently barred from mainstream civilization, are much more probable to pass on untimely; and so Friel (2009) believes that the social system has stopped working. Scores of the fundamental social determinants of obesity, which entails agricultural practices, car reliance, and urban design, are as well considerable contributors to environmental dilapidation, such as global warming, whereby our system for natural-care is being worn away. Therefore, obesity and underlying causes, should be, a main concern for the Australian government and not-for-profit sectors (Hajizadeh et al., 2014). For this reason, policies as well as regulations in non-health sectors are desirable so as to deal with the core social causes of unhealthy conducts. According to Ward et al. (2012) the health sector is both a determinant of health inequities as well as health and a custodian of policy rationality along with intersectoral partnership for Australians wellbeing. At this moment appears to be a favourable political moment to start action on the social determinants of health equity, population health as well as healthy behaviour in Australia. Ward et al. (2012) posits that knowing social determnants can aid the National Preventative Health Taskforce to strengthen the Australian Federal government advance on its Shape-Up Australia initiative to protect as well as support the Australians health, and these determinants may justify why government must admit that prevention of obesity or overweight can just be realized through action that handles the social determinants. The joint effect of gross health inequities, environmental degradation, as well as economic instability is challenging global organisation, nations as well as people in a manner that has never been experienced. All of such setbacks have social origins as well as, by and large, influences more on people down the social hierarchy like aboriginal and refugee (Mitrou et al., 2014). The effects from 2008 global economic crisis as well as resulting worldwide re-construction offer a chance to rethink what is meant by societal and development achievement. Correspondingly, the unstable environmental state of affairs, with people living beyond the natural carrying capacity of the Earth, solicits a novel international operating system. In addition, as expressed by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), the poor health quality in scores of countries along with the noticeable health inequities within and between countries are signs of societal, development and market failure (Mitrou et al., 2014). There is increasing need globally to redefine concepts of nationwide advancement, achievement as well as what society value. Besides that, positioning equity in health as an indicator of development that is successful, Shape-Up Australia must reframe development to include sustainable economic growth. It as well signifies a culture where every individual must have the independent to lead flourishing as well as healthy lives. Still, not all and sundry has the same level of independence to accomplish this and this uneven distribution of freedoms, debatably, manifests as the disadvantaged poor health, as well as the inequities in health between nations (Friel, 2009). The social determinants together with Empowerment According to Macdonald (2010), having the independence to live a flourishing and healthy life is identical with empowerment, in this regard based on political, psychosocial as well as material empowerment of countries, societies, and people. Friel (2009) maintain that people require the fundamental material rudiments for a civilized life; they as well must have control over their lives (psychosocial), as well as they require voice, contribution in addition to engagement in processes of making decisions (political). In addition, social determinants lies behind empowerment, and according to Friel (2009), they are the essential socio-cultural, socio-environmental, socio-economic and socio-political attributes of modern human societies, as well as their connections amongst themselves, shape the manner in which we live and work, with effects for health associated behaviours. Specifically, Friel (2009) affirm that the social as well as economic policies that make and share out revenue, products and services, and political power locally, nationally, and globally, as well establish the conditions of day after day living in addition to the practices that diverse groups in the society pursue. Relying on the nature of such day after day living circumstances together with practices, Australians are differentially exposed to health risk factors. Therefore, Hajizadeh et al. (2014) beieves that action directed towards the social determinants can enhance Australian’s behavioural opportunities, psychosocial resources, as well as material circumstances. Medical as well as technical solutions like medical care and disease control are, undoubtedly, essential for health, but Friel (2009) thinks they are inadequate since healthcare and medical solutions do not subsist for scores of the setbacks that must be dealt with. Any sober endeavour to support health, avert ill-health and decrease inequities in health as per Hajizadeh et al. (2014) have to handle the social determinants that shape how people grow-up, which in the end have an effect on their health. Furthermore, scores of the social determinants of such behaviours that lead to non-communicable disease to a large extent overlap with the environmental sustainability drivers and particularly global warming. Managing the health social determinants can lead towards better population health equity and posses co-advantages for terrestrial health. Shape Up Australia with regard to Equity Public health approaches like Shape-Up Australia to contemporary health setbacks have primarily stressed on the role of persons, their health services as well as behaviours. Personal factors like socio-cultural in behaviour. Nevertheless, the regular development, continuance and, rarely, enhancement in the obesity social distribution together with it correlated health consequences demonstrates the impact of wider societal issues as well as living state of affairs on day after day practices like Australian’s capability to practice healthy behaviour is compromised, progressively more with declining social status. According to Friel (2009) what and the amount people drink or eat and how their energy is spent are responses to their socio-cultural, socio-environmental, socio-economic and socio-political environments. Therefore, deciding on staying healthy by eating healthy, being active physically, and reducing consumption of alcohol in the midst of all social groups’ needs empowerment of people to make such choices. This points out that the healthy choice have to be monetarily, physically, and communally the simplest and most preferable choice to make, amongst every social group. Social groups empowerment as per Macdonald (2010) to live lives that are healthy as well as practice healthy behaviours is impacted by circumstances of day by day life that is to say those day after day societal occurrences, monetary resources, physical settings, as well as conditions for material living, which jointly shape how individuals live their lives all through the course of their life. Ward et al. (2012) claim that there are societal inequities in day after day living circumstances, which result to inequalities in health results. Refugee Health According to Drummond et al. (2011) refugees together with migrants endure several setbacks to accessing health care as well as enhanced status of health. Such consist of difficulties in language, monetary need in addition to joblessness, cultural distinctions, and legal obstacles along with health employees having low knowledge of refugees-based issues. Essentially, present migration and settlement policy in Australia as well have an effect on health status as well as access to health. A sufficient knowledge of such 'obstacles to health' is a must for health service managers and health providers if they are to change health care and services suitably. According to Mitrou et al. (2014) the pre-arrival refugees’ experiences have enormous implications based on their long-standing mental as well as physical health. Many migrants and refugees have escaped persecution and scores have been tortured in one way or another, being stressed in consequence of conflict and war. Time used travelling as well as in countries they first seek refuge often equates to long-drawn-out insecurity and dislocation, with refugees frequently exhausting lots of years moving from one country to another or in asylum or refugees camps with inadequate or with no health care access; thus, as a consequence suffering unsolved health setbacks as well as poor nutrition. Upon getting to Australia, the process of settlement itself can be a tremendously traumatic period and have a noteworthy depressing compounding effect on people’s wellbeing together with health (Drummond et al., 2011). A number of common health-associated issues for refugee in Australia consist of: Getting access to health service, given that refugees always arrive with inadequate information and knowledge concerning accessible health care services and Ward et al. (2012) believe this can result in an services underutilisation. Factors highlighted by Drummond et al. (2011) that can influence an individual accessing proper health care comprise: the individual’s age, sexual characteristics, monetary privation, cultural beliefs, education, as well as closeness to services. A certain setback for refugee as well migrants with regard to health care service ease of access is the interpreters’ underutilisation by a number of health care providers. Mental health is another issue, whereby scores of refugees who have just arrived do not have friendship as well as family networks in Australia and experience isolation within their latest communities, which as per Drummond et al. (2011) can negatively impact mental health as well as make worse pre-existing issues of the mental health. The harmful effect of long-lasting separation from their people on mental health is experienced by scores of refugees, and so should be a subject of concern. Issues of mental health coupled with the refugee experience frequently fail to manifest themselves at once; instead, they turn out to be noticeable a short time after settling. Consequently, previous refugees could be requiring mental health services and counselling for trauma as well as torture well subsequent to their eligibility for such services. The restraints and challenges in accessing mental health services for persons in exile are akin to those endured generally in health services (Ward et al., 2012). Owing to their pre-arrival experiences, scores of refugee teenagers arrive in Australia with inadequate information concerning sexual as well as reproductive health. Undoubtedly, there can be harmful health effects where there is inadequate needed support and inadequate opportunities for teenagers to become conversant with sexual and reproductive health in the Australian milieu. Finally, prior to moving to Australia, scores of refugees have survived for ages with small amount of food; thus resulting to poor nutrition. This according to Drummond et al. (2011) can present setbacks during the process of refugee settlement, since the refugees have to acquaint themselves with Australian food choices as well as their effects. Reflection I believe now is the most favourable time to launch action on the social determinants of equity in Australian health. So as to take advantage of this political environment, I concur with Friel (2009) that some fundamental factors are needed to create a firm backbone with which to support the action. Support action on the obesity social determinants, in my view needs political willpower at its best level, braced by a public sector that is empowered in terms of principles of even-handedness, involvement, as well as intersectoral partnership. This as per Mitrou et al. (2014) point out that strong government with public organisation core functions proportionate to policy consistency, planning, participatory governance, regulation enforcement as well as development, and standard environment. I believe promoting equity in health by means of Shape-Up Australia campaign, as well denotes handling a number of the essential cultural, economic, and political issues that have an effect on living conditions of Australians, their day after day behaviour and practices-associated risks. That proves that handling issues of Australia economic priorities; governance; arrangements of trade; foreign direct investment as well as market deregulation; economic policy, and the level to which processes, systems and policies are inclusionary and are much associated with handling the uneven distribution of resources, money, and power. I am certain that tackling these health inequity determinants will not only assist empower communities and people but as well will empower Australia federal government as well as other key institutions in the public sector. For instance, improved international governance as well as frameworks for regulation generates space in the national policy, and in so doing allowing government to bring in policies that handle pressures at corporate level like reckless promotion (Friel, 2009). Recently, most Australians including myself support health approaches such as Shape-Up Australia, particularly for the underprivileged, such as refugees, migrants and aboriginal Australians. Life Socio-economic challenges in a remote or rural society relate to considerable risk factors in health, like higher smoking rates, enormous disability rates as well as less physical activities (Drummond et al., 2011). The permutation social disadvantage as well as of remoteness leads to worse health consequences, like an enormous rate of preventable mortality and preventable hospitalisations. In my view the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) must take a wider view of health and must pursue useful opportunities for handling the health social determinants. Conclusion In conclusion, it has been argued that Australia has one of the world’s best health systems, but it continues to subscribe to inequities in health. Of interest is the country’s capability to prevent and take care of chronic diseases that are non-communicable such as obesity, which until now is Australia’s main health burden. Importantly, Australian government together with the health-care system have above all been concerned with clinical care delivery. By concentrating on social determinants, more emphasis must be directed to the longer term by means of disease prevention, health promotion, as well as primary health care, all with possible sustainable health enhancements. This focus is the just means that the present and future Australian health burden will be assuaged. Shape-Up Australia as an obesity and overweight initiative can help get Australia and the public at large back on track bearing mind that the brand was created to help attract and direct Australians towards plausible, proof-based obesity and overweight prevention programs, services, and information of and healthy lifestyle. References Drummond, P. D., Mizan, A., Brocx, K., & Wright, B. (2011). Barriers to Accessing Health Care Services for West African Refugee Women Living in Western Australia. Health Care for Women International, 32(3), 206-224. Friel, D. S. (2009). Health equity in Australia:A policy framework based on action on the social determinants of obesity, alcohol and tobacco. The Australian National Preventative Health Taskforce. Sydney: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health. Gifford, S. M., Bakopanos, C., Kaplan, I., & Correa-Velez, I. (2007). Meaning or Measurement? Researching the Social Contexts of Health and Settlement among Newly-arrived Refugee Youth in Melbourne, Australia. Journal of Refugee Studies, 20(3), 414-440. Hajizadeh, M., Connelly, L. B., & Butler, J. R. (2014). Health Policy and Equity of Health Care Financing in Australia: 1973-2010. The Review of Income and Wealth, 60(2), 298-322. Macdonald, J. J. (2010). Health Equity and the Social Determinants of Health in Australia. Social Alternatives, 29(2), 34-40. Mitrou, F., Cooke, M., Lawrence, D., Povah, D., Mobilia, E., & al, e. (2014). Gaps in Indigenous disadvantage not closing: a census cohort study of social determinants of health in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand from 1981-2006. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 201-235. Shapeup.gov.au. (2013, June 4). Shape Up, A Guide for Health Professionals. Retrieved from Shape Up Australia: http://www.shapeup.gov.au/resources/shape-up/shape-up-for-health-professionals Ward, P. R., Mamerow, L., Henderson, J., Taylor, A. W., Meyer, S. B., & al., e. (2012). The Social Determinants of Food Purchasing Practices: Who Chooses Price-before-Health, Taste-before-Price or Organic Foods in Australia? Food and Nutrition Sciences, 3(4), 461-470. Read More