L27: Social Determinants Of Health

Question 1

Determinants of health

Answer 1

1. Genetics
2. Individual behaviour
3. Social environment (Social, Economic, Political)
4. Physical environment
5. Health services

Question 2

Health inequality, Health inequity, Socioeconomic gradient

Answer 2

Health inequality: Differences in health achievements
Health inequity: Health inequalities deemed unfair
Socioeconomic gradient: lower level of socioeconomic gradient —> poorer health

Question 3

How to measure inequality

Answer 3

Gini coefficient
Measure of income distribution
- Perfect equality line
- Lorenz curve: steeper the curve —> larger the inequality

Complete equality = 0
Complete inequality = 1

Question 4

Definition of Poverty

Answer 4

Social and value judgement on the minimal acceptable standard of living

1. Absolute poverty: amount of money needed to meet basic needs
2. Relative poverty: in relation to economic status of other members in society

Question 5

What is inverse care law

Answer 5

• Availability of medical care vary inversely with the need for it in the population
• Operates more completely where medical care is subjected to market force

Question 6

Pathways to ill health

Answer 6

MCPBL

1. Material: access to tangible materials in relation to socioeconomic status
   —> lead to different psychosocial, cultural and accessibility issues
2. Psychosocial
3. Cultural: traditional beliefs, knowledge and behaviour
4. Behavioural
5. Lifecourse: health is a result from all events happening from/prior birth, embodies prior living circumstances/ health status, across generations