Social Determinants of Health

Question 1

Social Determinants of health

Answer 1

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.

Question 2

Health Inequities 

Answer 2

The unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.

Question 3

Equity

Answer 3

fairness and justice

Question 4

Equality

Answer 4

same to all

Question 5

SDH

Answer 5

Socio-economic conditions that shape the health of individuals, communities, & populations.
Do Canadians possess the resources to identify & achieve personal aspirations, satisfy needs, & cope with their environment.

Question 6

SDH’s

Answer 6

Income, poverty, income distribution
Education, literacy
Housing, Neighbourhoods
Food security
Water & Sanitation
Access to health-care
Social support
Social safety network
Unemployment & job security
Employment & working conditions
Early childhood development
Social cohesion, Community participation, Social inclusion
Exposure to crime, violence, social disorder
Social norms: discrimination, racism, distrust of government
Environmental conditions
Gender
Race
Indigenous status
Disability
Transportation
Public Safety

Question 7

Circumstances are shaped by larger forces:

Answer 7

Politics, Economics, Social Policies

Question 8

Most important SDH

Answer 8

Income

Overall living conditions, psychological functioning, health-related lifestyle behaviours, food security, housing…
Also income distribution, wealth inequality
Most important in societies providing fewer important services to all people as a right
Material & social deprivation – basic necessities for health (food, clothing, housing), social exclusion

Question 9

Employment

Answer 9

Income, sense of identity, structure to everyday life

Question 10

Unemployment

Answer 10

material & social deprivation, psychological stress, lowered self-esteem, health-threatening coping behaviours, depression, anxiety

Question 11

Education

Answer 11

Canada performs well, but disparities exist
Correlates with income, job security, working conditions
More opportunities if life situation suddenly changes
Increased literacy & understanding of how one can promote one’s own health, more sophisticated skills to evaluate information

Question 12

Working conditions

Answer 12

Large amount of time spent at work
Employment security, physical conditions, work stress, hours, autonomy, opportunities for development, demands vs. rewards, lack of control

Question 13

Early childhood development

Answer 13

Strong immediate & future biological, psychological & social effects on health
Conditions of material & social deprivation, cumulative effects re: adverse health & developmental outcomes
Learned helplessness = inefficacy
% of Canadian children living in poverty?
Access to child care

Question 14

Food insecurity

Answer 14

A basic human need
Inability to have an adequate diet – quantity or quality
Fewer servings of fruits & vegetables, fewer milk products, fewer vitamins
% of Canadian households experiencing food insecurity?
More common in households with children, more common for single mothers

Question 15

Housing

Answer 15

A basic necessity for living a healthy life
Unsafe, unaffordable, insecure housing leads to increased health risks
Governments responsible to provide citizens with pre-requisites for health
Overcrowding, poor heating, ventilation, clean water & sanitation, identity, stress
Canadian rent prices have increased, especially in the big cities:

Question 16

Social Exclusion

Answer 16

Denial of opportunity to participate in Canadian life

Indigenous peoples, non-white, recent immigrants, women, people with disabilities especially at risk
Limited access to social, cultural, & economic resources  powerlessness, hopelessness, depression

Question 17

Inclusion

Answer 17

Participation in civil affairs, access to social goods, participation & contribution to social & cultural activities, access to economic resources & opportunities

Question 18

Canada Health Act: 5 principles

Answer 18

Public Administration, Comprehensiveness, Universality, Portability, Accessibility

Question 19

Gender

Answer 19

Canadian women experience more adverse SDHs than men – WHY?
Responsibilities for raising children, taking care of the home, less likely to work full-time, lower paying occupations
On average, women earn less than men regardless of occupation
Lack of affordable high-quality daycare

Question 20

Stress

Answer 20

Chronic stress  Physiological strain on body, disrupts body systems, weakens resistance to disease.

Question 21

Psychological

Answer 21

feelings of shame, insecurity, worthlessness, anxiety, hopelessness, exhaustion  adoption of unhealthy coping behaviours

Question 22

Health follows a social gradient

Answer 22

The poorest of the poor, around the world, have the worst health.
Within countries, in general the lower an individual’s socioeconomic position, the worse their health.
Social gradient in health runs from top to bottom of the socioeconomic spectrum.
Seen in low, middle & high income countries. The social gradient in health means health inequities affect everyone.