Addressing the Determinants of Health - Term Paper Example

Addressing the Determinants of Health Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Instructor Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date Introduction The determinants of health are collectively the factors, both individual and communal, and the conditions that affect the health status of individuals generally. For a population to be healthy, it will have to take into account the variety of determinants that affect their health and how the factors interconnect (Camara et al, 2009). They include the social, the economic and political determinants. The essay herein discusses the determinants of health in regard to the health and social services as a sub-system of the sand shoe survey project. Health and social services as determinants of health incorporate a variety of issues. For instance, according to the sand shoe survey report, it can include the provision of health services to the elderly people in the population. It can also incorporate care and services that is given to the people living with HIV/AIDS. Moreover, other services may still include preventing homelessness which can be achieved through provision of food, shelter, clothing and other basic needs to the needy members of the society (Popple & Leslie, 2008). Another category is providing medical care to the vulnerable members in the population and also children services just but to mention a few. Ways to Work with the Community First, addressing the determinants of health basically lies in the social model of health which involves the improvement of the health and the well being of the population by addressing the factors that contribute to health in tandem with other medical and biological factors. It incorporates addressing the social determinants of health and provision of social services. The objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO) underpin and support the conceptual framework of prompting medical care and public health. It defines health as a person’s complete status of his/her mental, physical and social wellbeing. It does not merely mean the absence of a disease (WHO, 2008). The social determinants of health refer to the surrounding conditions in which people are born, the surroundings that they grow in, live, work and finally grow old. This also includes the surrounding health system (Popple & Leslie, 2008). The factors are many and are interconnected. These are namely income, employment, education levels, food, housing facilities, culture, race, equity and inclusion (Lavin & Metcalfe, 2009). When the people have adequate income, then they can afford to access quality medical care and services. A range of healthy foods also reduce health complications and sicknesses which could be a health problem within the population (Camara et al, 2009). The National Competency Standards of nursing dictate that nurses should provide competent services to the population (Smith, Keleher & Fry, 2008). They must aim to improve the health and wellbeing and reduce burdens of diseases amongst the populations. The national policies ought to target all groups without any form of discrimination while addressing both the social and the environmental determinants of health. Political and civil societies must address and advocate for issues of health and put in place strategies that will reduce health inequalities that exist between the populations (Mouy & Barr, 2010). The second intervention is addressing the provision of primary health care to the population. This requires practices that are within the professional standards and ethical considerations within nursing (Camara et al, 2009). Most importantly, the nurses must observe the code of ethics and maintain the professional standards while giving care to the patients. Health and social services play an important role in the lives of the people. The sand shoe survey project identified various determinants of health. They range from the individual factors, communal factors as well as behavioural factors (Lavin & Metcalfe, 2009). Notably, individual behaviours played the biggest role in shaping the health status of the people. They include characteristics such as drinking, smoking, overeating and sedentary lifestyles. Risky behaviours such as unsafe sexual behaviours and use of illicit drugs are also a threat to the health status of an individual (Mouy & Barr, 2010). It is generally a setback to the primary health care that is provided by the medical professionals. Moreover, addressing the determinants of health must involve practices that are within an evidence based framework (Lavin & Metcalfe, 2009). Nursing that incorporates evidence based practice is that which uses the best evidence available at the time in the provision of health care. Public health matters are very crucial that it must be if concern to the doctors to include evidence based medicine. It uses information that is explicit, conscientious and judicious to come up with decisions that are best in the care for individual patients (Camara et al, 2009). Evidence based practices additionally build on conducting a comprehensive and systematic nursing assessment. It provides ideal care for the population and is also cost effective. Health promotion must also be addressed. This can include putting together measures and strategies to reduce any health inequities and also strengthen governance that will promote health and development (Camara et al, 2009). Strengthening the health systems of the sand shoe community will call for supporting universal health care coverage. Nevertheless, the public healthy capacity must be expanded and maintained (Camara et al, 2009). This calls for action on the various health determinants as well as intersectional action. Thirdly, addressing the determinants of health also incorporates the inclusion and practice of equity by the government in the policies of all sectors (Lavin & Metcalfe, 2009). It was noted during the project that there is unequal access to care and medical services among the population. This inequity has been attributed to the differences in income and the social status of the individuals. The differences observed are the socio-economic indicators of health disparities amongst the population (Mouy & Barr, 2010). Thus, the groups that are more disadvantaged economically exhibit the poorest health and are more exposed to risk factors that are detrimental to their health. There is a lot of evidence that the groups that are socio-economically poorer usually have very poor nutrition (Camara et al, 2009). They are also involved in less physical activity and less leisure time engagement. On the other hand, this group of people tend to over-indulge in smoking, drinking and other illicit drugs. The patterns of such lifestyles are generally risky to the health of the individuals (Popple & Leslie, 2008). In addition, the system has failed to address issues of access to the necessary and appropriate services which has compromised the ability of the population to make healthy choices regarding their health status. Conclusion The elderly segment of the population, those infected with HIV/AIDS, the homeless and vulnerable children, as the sand shoe survey project indicated, must also be reached out to. This will be the first step in addressing determinants the determinants of health in the population. Health and social services are the key foundation to the survival of any community (Smith, Keleher & Fry, 2008). They form the basis of the people’s lives without which the whole community may be at threat of extinction. Therefore, the subsystem needs to incorporate all the aspects of quality nursing care when addressing the subject (Camara et al, 2009). The factors are an interrelationship to the whole community and are very relevant to the health and the well being of the population (Lavin & Metcalfe, 2009). Primary health care, the health of the public and the promotion of the same calls for the stakeholders to address all the related factors. These include the physical environment, the health and social services, the economic factors as well and the political aspect that involves the health sector (Smith, Keleher & Fry, 2008). The sand shoe survey project lay down the foundation of the areas that include health and social services within a community. They ranged from provision of health services to the sick, the old, the HIV/AIDS victims, the vulnerable children, the poor, and even the homeless. All the above summarise the health and social needs that ought to be addressed in the community so as to promote primary health care promote and maintain public health in a population. References Camara P. J, Clara Y. J, Geraldine S, Gillian B., & Camille A. J. (2009). Addressing the Social Determinants of Children's Health: A Cliff Analogy. The Johns Hopkins University Press. http://muse.jhu.edu/content/oai/journals/journal_of_health_care_for_the_poor_and_underserved/v020/20.4A.jones.html. pg. 22 Lavin, T., & Metcalfe, O. (2009). Economic arguments for addressing social determinants of health inequalities. [Dublin], Institute of Public Health in Ireland. Pg. 17-23 Mouy B, & Barr A. (2010). The social determinants of health: is there a role for health promotion foundations? Health Promotion Journal of Australia : Official Journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals. Vol.17, pp.189-95. Popple, P. & Leslie L (2008). The Policy-Based Profession: An Introduction to Social Welfare Policy Analysis for Social Workers (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.pg. 7 Smith, B. Keleher, H. & Fry, C. (2008). Developing values, evidence and advocacy to address the social determinants of health. Australian Health Promotion Association. Australian Health Promotion Association. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/265744. WHO COMMISSION ON SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH, & WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. (2008). Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health : Commission on Social Determinants of Health final report. Geneva, Switzerland, World Health Organization, Commission on Social Determinants of Health.pg (Camara et al, 2009). 3-20 Read More