Social Determinants of Health Flashcards
What are determinants of health?
Interconnected factors that determine an individual’s health status and/or outcomes.
Give 3 examples of determinants of health.
Socio-economic status, culture, environment, health behaviours, access to care, personal/in-born features (genetics), childhood development.
What are some root causes to the determinants of health?
Natural environment (climate, water, and food supply), Macro issues (governance, conflicts/war, economic and social policies), and inequalities (distribution of wealth, employment and educational opportunities, and policitical influence).
What are some underlying causes to the determinants of health?
The build environment (such as land use & city planning, transport services, and services & facilities), and social context (community investment & policy, educational quality, civic participation).
What are some proximal causes to the determinants of health?
Material circumstances (ie. income, living/working conditions, food availability, and environmental toxins), Behavioural/lifestyle factors (like smoking, alcohol use, sexual behaviour, dietary choices, physical activity), and Psychosocial factors (education level, social support, available social resources, social participation, integration, or exclusion).
What is the difference between equality and equity?
Equality refers to each individual/group given the same resources and/or opportunities, whereas equity allocates the exact level of resource and/or opportunity depending on individual circumstance to reach an equal outcome.
Why do disparities, equity, and inequality matter?
- Healthy workers are more productive.
- Good health increases longevity and lifetime earnings.
- Illness usually leads to loss of earnings.
- Less well-off people, with less social and political power, will generally have worse health, poorer services, and less fairness and protection for financing health
