nursing 1070: week 2 - SDoH

Question 1

What are Social Determinants of Health?

Answer 1

Living and working conditions Canadians experience that shape their health.

Often out of an individuals control

Question 2

Overarching recommendations from WHO commission on SDoH (2008)

Answer 2

1. improve daily living conditions
2. reduce inequitable distribution of power, money, resources
3. understand the problem, assess the impact of action

Question 3

Which social determinant of health would be most impactful to change, and most influential?

Answer 3

Income has been proven to be one of the best predictors of better health of a society.

It’s also the most influential, it affects other SDoH (housing, education)

Question 4

Education - SDoH

Answer 4

• cost is a significant barrier to post-secondary education
• increases overall literacy and understanding of how to promote your own health
• good education leads to better health

Question 5

Unemployment & Job security - SDoH

Answer 5

• Job insecurity is on the rise in Canada
• creates stress

Question 6

Employment and working conditions - SDoH

Answer 6

• stressful job contributes to physical and psychological problems
• work factors: work pace, hours, conditions, employment security

Question 7

Early childhood development - SDoH

Answer 7

• critical stages of physical/emotional development
• fundamental to create healthy foundation for adult health

Question 8

Housing - SDoH

Answer 8

• good housing = better health
• poor housing = worsening health

Question 9

geography - SDoH

Answer 9

• air we breathe (pollution), food we eat (fast food in poor areas), viruses we are exposed to

Rural area = less pollution but less access to health care services

Urban area = more pollution but more access to health care services

Question 10

social inclusion/exclusion - SDoH

Answer 10

• ability to participate in social/cultural activities
• enjoy social goods (health care, education, language services, career opportunities)
• exclusion common in vulnerable groups (LGBTQ+, minorities, immigrants, disabled, elderly)

Question 11

Health Literacy

Answer 11

Ability to access, understand, evaluate, and communicate information to promote, maintain and improve health

Question 12

types of stress and examples of things that cause stress

Answer 12

• experiencing low income, poor working conditions, inadequate housing, food insecurity, employment insecurity, discrimination
• further magnified by lack of support, social isolation

Chronic stress: fight or flight
Continuous stress: begins in childhood, reduces disease resistance