Determinants, equity and interventions

Question 1

Give 4 determinants of health

Answer 1

genetics
environment - physical, social and economic
lifestyle
access to healthcare

Question 2

Define equity

Answer 2

Treating individuals fairly, based on their different needs and requirement. It means that rsources should be distributed based on need, not equal measures

Question 3

Define horizontal equity

Answer 3

Equal treatment for equal need (pneumonia vs pneumonia)

Question 4

Define vertical equity

Answer 4

Unequal treatment for unequal need (cold vs pneumonia)

Question 5

What needs to be examined to provide health equity?

Answer 5

Supply, access and utilisation of health care

Health outcomes

Resource allocation

Health

Others - education, housing

Wider determinants of health

But, health equity is difficult to assess directly, so assess equality, then decide if inequitable

Question 6

Explain the difference between secondary and tertiary prevention

Answer 6

Secondary prevention is about catching the disease early and acting to prevent it from getting worse where as tertiary prevention is about improving the QOL and minimising the symptoms you currently have

Question 7

Explain the difference between horizontal and vertical equity in relation to health care.

Answer 7

Horizontal equity is defined as the principle in which people with the same health needs should have similar access to the health care services. This contrasts to vertical equity, denoting unequal access to health care for people with different needs

Question 8

Explain the difference between public health interventions delivered at the population (ecological) and individual levels, using one example for each to illustrate your answer.

Answer 8

Population level is legislation and changes to policy e.g. alcohol unit limits per week. Individual level public health is advising an overweight individual to lose weight.