Midterm Module 2 Flashcards
Why is public health important?
Since the 1900s the average lifespan has increased has increased by 30 years and 25 of the years are due to advances in public heath
The work being done outside of hospitals are the cause
12 Great Achievements in Public Health
- Control of infectious diseases
o Many infectious diseases have been controlled and the spread has lessen - Safer workplaces (increases span of people’s lives, lessens deaths and accidents)
o Safety measures at workplaces - Motor vehicle safety
o Laws around road safety and car seat tests for parents - Safer and healthier food
o Safe quality - Decline in deaths from cardiovascular disease
o Since the mid 1960s cardiovascular disease has declined - Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard
o Education on tobacco and shifts in attitudes - Healthier mothers and babies
o 12 to 18 months maternity leave - Universal policies Family planning
o Providing birth control for women and families
o Waiting until 18 years old to have a child and the waiting 2 years until conceiving the next child after having one
o Abortion being legal - Healthier environments
o Reduce toxic emissions because of research and regulating companies to lessen their emissions - Vaccination
o Infections used to be the leading cause of death world-wide and now it is less than 5% in Canada - Acting on the social determinants of health
o Recognizing that many factors outside of the health deeply influence their health. Things such as income, education, early childhood development, and social connections
How do you see the world?
- Previous
- Upbringing
- Culture
- Gender
- Socioeconomic background
- Region
What are the social determinants of health?
Income and income distribution; education; unemployment and job security; employment and working conditions; early childhood development; food insecurity; environment; housing; social exclusions; social safety network; health services; gender; culture, race, and racism; disability, health promotion, indigenous status
Income and Income distribution
o 12.3% of Canadians live in poverty in 2018
o Low income and impoverished Canadians such as Indigenous, racialized, immigrants, and women are more likely to experience food insecurity (a state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food), hunger, lack of affordable housing, and homelessness, growing, inequality, interpersonal violence, substance ause, chronic and communicable diseases, and ill health
Education
o As education and literacy improve so does health
o “Education is closely linked socioeconomic status effective education for children and life long learning for adults is key to good health”
o “Health literacy is the skills that enable individuals to obtain, understand, and use information to make decisions and take actions that will have an impact on health status”
o Functional (math) literacy
o Critical literacy making critical decisions based on critical information
o Interactive literacy is the ability to apply change a stituion after gaining knowledg
Unemployment and Job Security
o Employment offers financial security and a sense of purpose while not having a job provides stress and material and social deprivation
Employment and Working Conditions
o Working conditions can either support and damage health
o Workplace stress is linked to more physical injuries
Early Child Hood Development
o Children who experience disadvantages in their childhood are at a higher risk of being vulnerable in all areas of early development
o Conception to age 6 has the most impactful time on the brains neurons connecting
o Toxic stress is the excess or prolonged activation of the sress respone sustems in the body and the brain
o Schools are important for children as they provide an environment where they feel safe so they can succeed
Food Insecurity
o Food insecurity is linked to poor health, worse quality of life, multiple health conditions, distress, anxiety and depression
Environment
o Physical and environmental quality are important.
o Contaminants in the air, water, soil, and food, can cause bad effects on health such as cancer birth defects, respiratory, and gastrointestinal issues.
o Is healthcare close and accessible or is it far to get to
Housing
o If a person does not have reliable, safe housing they are at risk of having worse health, if the quality of the home is bad such as having lead and poor heating systems health is affected directly
o Spending excess money on housing leads to little money left over to afford food and health care
Social Exclusion
o Being socially outcasted causes individuals to not have the basic human need of connection leaving them to be at risk of behaviours such as smoking, substance use, and overeating
Social Safety Network
o Social safety networks are the practical, emotional, informational, and affirmational support networks.
o Not having access to good social support can lead to chronic conditions that affect health, health behaviours, and heath care utilization
o Men, lone parent familes, and lower income Canadians reported having lower support. Support is crucial as helps people cope and maintain a sense of control over their lives.
o Good support networks act as a buffer against health problems.
Health Services
o A push to community health is aiding the issue of overcrowded hospitals
o Medicare which only some things are covered (does not cover dental, drug costs)
o More health care services help support health such as prenatal care and immunization clinics and more accessible primary care.
o Medical Services only account for about 25% of a population’s health status, other services are child benefits, housing, gender equality, equity, reconciliation, and climate change.
o Quality and accessible primary care, long term care, hospital care, home care, and public health services, as well as prenatal care, well-child, and immunization clinics are important to health.
o The government has being moving to increase community based healthcare; however the push has been slow.
