public health & promotion Flashcards
what is Health Inequality:
- Measurable differences in health between groups or individuals.
- Can be due to various factors (biological, social, economic).
- e.g. geographical inequalities life expectancy is a good indicator: direct correlation of socio economic status impacting life expectancy
what is Health Inequity:
Subset of health inequalities that are avoidable and unnecessary differences.
* Unfair and unjust
* Systematic across populations
* Rooted in social, economic, or environmental conditions
characteristics of Dahlgren and Whitehead model of Social Determinants of Health
- personal characteristics occupy the core of the model and include sex, age, ethnic group, and hereditary factors
- individual ‘lifestyle’ factors include behaviours such as smoking,
alcohol use, and physical activity - social and community networks include family and wider social circles
- living and working conditions include access and opportunities in
relation to jobs, housing, education and welfare services - general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions include
- factors such as disposable income, taxation, and availability of work
whitehall study I & II
- Whitehall Studies investigated CVD prevalence and mortality
rates among British civil servants. - British government highly stratified.
- Whitehall I Study (initial prospective cohort* study) examined over 18,000 male civil servants between the ages of 20 – 64 over 10 years since 1967.
- Whitehall II Study was conducted from 1985 -1988 and examined the health of 10,308 civil servants aged 35 - 55, of whom 2/3rds were men and 1/3rd women.
- A long-term follow-up of study subjects from the first two
phases is ongoing.
whitehall study findings:
- strong association between grade levels of civil
servant employment & mortality rates from a range
of causes: the lower the grade, the higher the
mortality rate. - Men in the lowest grade (messengers,
doorkeepers, etc.) had a mortality rate 3 x higher
than that of men in the highest grade
(administrators).
what is social capital?
in the context of social determinants of health refers to
the resources & benefits individuals can access through their social
relationships, networks, & community connections.
how many components does social capital encompass
three
what are the names of the 3 components social capital encompasses
social support
social networks
social cohesion
what is social support
Direct assistance available through social
relationships
what are social networks
The web of social relationships surrounding an
individual
what is social cohesion
The strength and solidarity of a group or
community
how does build/natural environment affect health
- neighbourhood design and housing
- air quality = fine particulate matter (PM2.5) linked to mortality + disadvantaged communities have higher exposure
- Access to green spaces benefit physical and mental wellbeing, but these are usually unequally distributed
→ Private rented sector had highest proportion (27%) of substandard dwellings
what is particulate matter / what its composed of
- PM: Non-gaseous particles suspended in air
- Composition: Sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust, water
why does the size of PM matter
- Size matters: PM10 (≤10 micrometers) can enter lungs.
- PM2.5 (≤2.5 micrometers) most dangerous: can enter bloodstream
Health: defined as:
a state of complete physical, mental & social well being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
how we would define/characterise public health
preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the
organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private, communities and individuals
include a wide spectrum of activities that
influence global and national policies such as reducing carbon emissions, creating fairer societies and include legislative measures e.g. banning smoking in public places and providing social services.