The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, live, work, and age, and which determine their overall physical and mental health. These include factors such as income and educational attainment, access to healthcare services, housing quality, employment opportunities, social support networks, and physical environment. The social determinants of health have a significant impact on an individual's ability to lead a healthy life – from having the resources to make healthy lifestyle choices to being able to afford preventive care. It is important for policymakers to consider these factors when designing policies that aim to improve public health outcomes.
We all want to take care of our bodies, and that’s why we’re more health-conscious today than ever before. When we think of taking care of our bodies, we think about eating right, exercising, and access to healthcare. That’s why we’ve seen healthier menu items pop up across the country, and even a push to make access to healthcare easier for Americans with the Affordable Care Act. However, what many people fail to realize is there’s more to health than that, there are outside factors that affect us known as social determinants of health.
Social determinants of health are not new, in fact, they have been around forever. Healthy People 2020 is a campaign run by the federal government that aims to bring about a higher level of health equity in the US. Social determinants of health are more important than many realize, but what exactly are they, and how do they affect you?
A Basic Understanding Of Social Determinants Of Health
As the name suggests, social determinants of health are a combination of personal, social, environmental, and economic factors that all play a role in one’s health. These social determinants inevitably cause a disparity in health equity, and the importance of these factors cannot be ignored.
Example Of Social Determinants Of Health
Social determinants of health are found all around us, something as simple as the neighborhood you grew up in could play a huge role in your health. Let’s take a look at an example to gain a greater understanding of these determinants of health.
A good example of a social determinant of health is your economic stability. Economic stability includes your employment status, housing stability, and even your overall health. A lack of economic stability can lead to higher levels of stress and anxiety, which over time will lead to deteriorated health. So while you may have the same access to healthcare as others or even access to the same healthy food and exercise options, your socioeconomic status plays a role in your health and is considered a social determinant of health.
Social Determinants Of Health According To The CDC and WHO
Economic stability is just one determinant of your health, but even within economic stability, there are many different determinants to take into account. It’s hard to put together a comprehensive list of all the social determinants of your health, but here is how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) break them down.
- Economic Stability
- Physical Environment
- Social Environment
- Education
- Food
- Genetics & Gender
- Access to Healthcare
Why Are Determinants Of Health So Important?
Determinants of health are important because they shape the overall physical and mental well-being of individuals. They have a direct impact on an individual's access to healthcare services, educational attainment, employment opportunities, social support networks, and physical environment. These factors can dramatically affect one's ability to lead a healthy life, from having the means to make healthy lifestyle choices to being able to afford preventive care. It is essential for governments and other policy makers to understand the impact that these determinants have in order to create policies that will improve public health outcomes. When most people think about health, they think about access to healthcare, physical exercise, and nutrition. What many don’t realize is that other factors play a significant role in your overall health, meaning you can have to take care of your body to the best of your ability, but still have poor overall health as a result of poor health determinants.
According to the World Health Organization official website, social determinants of health play a huge role in the overall health of a population. The WHO states:
” The context of people’s lives determines their health, and so blaming individuals for having poor health or crediting them for good health is inappropriate. Individuals are unlikely to be able to directly control many of the determinants of health.”
How Can It Affect Our Healthcare and Insurance System?
Social determinants of health can have a significant effect on our healthcare and insurance systems. For example, people with lower incomes may lack access to preventive care, leading to poorer overall health outcomes over time. This in turn creates more expensive medical bills for those individuals, as well as insurance companies, who may be forced to cover additional costs related to preventable illnesses. At the same time, higher levels of education and social support networks are linked with better health outcomes, leading to fewer expenses for both individuals and insurers. Therefore, it is imperative that policy makers consider social determinants when designing policies that will improve public health outcomes while also ensuring affordable access to healthcare services.
What is Health Equity?
Health equity is the concept that every individual should have an equal opportunity to achieve optimal health regardless of their social, economic and environmental circumstances. It is rooted in the belief that all people should receive access to healthcare services, public health programs and social services without experiencing financial hardship or discrimination based on factors such as race, gender or socio-economic status. Health equity not only ensures that everyone has a chance to receive quality care but also works to reduce disparities in health outcomes between different groups. As such, policy makers can use this concept to develop laws and policies that promote fairness and accountability in the healthcare system.
Health equity and social determinants of health are intimately intertwined. Social determinants, like income level or education, have a direct impact on an individual's ability to access quality healthcare services and public health programs. Lack of access can lead to poorer overall health outcomes and higher expenses for individuals and insurance companies. On the other hand, when social determinants are addressed, it has been proven to improve public health outcomes while also reducing disparities in care among different groups. Therefore, policy makers should consider both social determinants and work towards achieving greater health equity when crafting laws and regulations related to healthcare systems.
How Determinants Of Health Can Lead To Illness
The National Center for Biotechnology Information brought to light an interesting discovery in regard to social determinants of health. They cite Thomas Mckeown, who was a Scottish physician. Thomas McKeown conducted a groundbreaking study focused on the death records in England and Wales over the span of about a quarter of a century.
Dr. McKeown discovered something revolutionary. Between the mid-19th century and 1960s, deaths from multiple causes saw a steady decline before cures and treatments became available. So what was the driving factor behind the increase in life expectancy? Thomas McKeown concluded that the improvement in living standards, including nutrition, sanitation, and clean water were to thank.
Dr. McKeown’s discovery showed how social determinants of health lead to lower standards of living, which in turn lead to health problems and illness. If you take a look at developed countries around the world, you’ll see that the US falls behind when it comes to life expectancy due to high rates of illness and disease, specifically obesity and heart conditions.
The US is a global leader when it comes to healthcare and medical technology, so why then is the life expectancy in the US ranked 26th out of the 35 developed countries around the world? The reason stems from social determinants of health.
While the US may have superior healthcare than other countries, other factors play a role. Determinants of health, such as poverty, expensive medical bills, and poor nutrition all contribute to illness and disease in the US. This is further proof the determinants of health play a significant role in a population’s disease and illness rates.
Social Determinants Of Mental Health
Determinants of health are not just isolated to physical health, illness, or ailments, but will also shape and mold the mental health of an individual. In an excerpt from the World Health Organization, they state the following:
” Disadvantages start before birth and tend to accumulate throughout life, although not all individuals with similar exposures have the same vulnerabilities; some are more resilient or have access to buffers and supports to mitigate the potential mental health effects of disadvantage and poverty.”
Broken down, this excerpt shows that the overall consensus among the scientific community agrees that outside factors contribute to the mental health of an individual. These social determinants of health will play a large part in shaping the mental health of an individual.
An example of a social determinant of mental health would be the parents who raised you. Your mental health may be shaped by the behaviors and attitudes of your parents. Childhood neglect, for example, has been linked to PTSD, which can bring about traumatizing memories which lead to “emotional and physical reactions” by an individual.
How Social Determinants Of Health Are Being Addressed In The US
Social determinants of health are not a new concept, and the health community in the US has been exploring ways to address the health equity gap in the US. One such initiative launched by the federal government is the Healthy People campaign.
The Healthy People campaign aims to close the gap in health equity in the US and create good health for all. According to the Healthy People website, they are attempting to address social determinants of health with the following:
- Explore how policies and programs affect individuals and families in certain areas.
- Create common goals and positive relationships between the health sector and communities.
- Promote collaboration between Federal, State, and Local governments to tackle social determinants of health.
Social Determinants Of Health Around The World
The World Health Organization has working offices in over 150 countries around the world, and their goal is to bring about a healthier future for everyone. The World Health Organization works closely with governments across the globe to eliminate health risks such as disease, poor air quality, and poor nutrition, and bring new medical technologies and medicines to achieve higher health equity.
Conclusion
Social determinants of health have a significant impact on an individual's ability to access quality healthcare services and insurance coverage. Socioeconomic status, income level, education, race and gender can all be major factors in determining whether someone is able to purchase health insurance or not. Furthermore, certain social determinants can cause an individual to experience higher premiums and more difficulty navigating the insurance system than others. Therefore, policy makers must consider how social determinants are impacting access to insurance when crafting laws and regulations related to healthcare systems in order to promote greater health equity.
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