Chapter 5.5 - New Public Health & the Social Model of Health

Question 1

What is the social model of health?

Answer 1

• focuses on broader factors and their role in causing ill health
• a community/population approach to prevent disease and ill health
• focuses on policies, education & health promotion
• developed in the 1970s as a result of the impact of lifestyle diseases

Question 2

Examples of social model of health?

Answer 2

• creating laws that promote HWB (smoking bans, road safety laws)
• education campaigns (TAC TV ads, Sunsmart)
• empowering people (Health Star Rating System, how to read food labels)

Question 3

Defining features?

Answer 3

• prevents diseases from occurring in the first place
• aims to improve the health status of disadvantaged groups

Question 4

Strengths?

Answer 4

• promotes good health & wellbeing
• assists in preventing diseases
• relatively inexpensive
• focuses on vulnerable population (equity)
• education can be passed on from generation to generation

Question 5

Limitations?

Answer 5

• not every condition can be prevented
• does not promote the development of technology & medical knowledge
• does not address HWB concerns of individuals
• health promotion messages may be ignored

Question 6

Principles of social model of health (IDEAR)

Answer 6

• Intersectoral collaboration
• Determinants of health
• Empowers individuals & communities
• Access to healthcare
• Reduce social inequities

Question 7

Intersectoral collaboration

Answer 7

Sectors such as health sector, education sector, government & non-government organisations, private sector work together to produce the greatest results
- road safety
- sporting organisations

Question 8

Determinants of health

Answer 8

Address determinants such as location, education, income, gender, SES, etc… to aid in achieving optimal health & wellbeing
- indigenous health campaigns

Question 9

Empowers individuals & communities

Answer 9

Play a part in the planning & delivery of different initiatives, given the skills and resources, position to make positive changes to health
- health eating programs at schools

Question 10

Access to healthcare

Answer 10

Lack of access to healthcare for a variety of reasons ; gender, cultural, race, geographic location, etc…
Barriers are addressed to promote HWB
- breast cancer vans that travel around Australia

Question 11

Reduce social inequities

Answer 11

Sociocultural factors; gender, race, SES, social exclusion, etc… to improve HWB in disadvantaged groups, these inequities must be targeted
- welfare payments