Question

Focus now on determinants of health. What are these? Why are they so important? How do they impact health? Review the data we have examined and think about changes we can make in the community that can have an impact on health. The vast majority of determinants of health exist outside the realm of medical care or public health. Identify an initiative designed to positively impact determinants of health. How was it mounted? By whom? Has it been successful? Why or why not? By what measure? Cite evidence of what is taking place to address the issues.

Answer 1

Health is multifactorial which are influenced by intrinsic, genetic, external and environmental factors. It may be leads health promotion or disease. The factors which affect the health is known as determinants of health.

They are the following :

1. Biological determinants: Genes are responsible for mental and physical traits of human being. It determined at moment of conception. It cannot changed. So many disease associated with genes such as chromosomal anomaly, mental retardation, errors of metabolism etc.  

Genetic heritage can be achieved by person live in a healthy relationship with his environment. Environment change the genetic potentialities in to phenotypic realities.

2. Behavioral and sociocultural conditions

Personal habits are developed through process of socialisation. Life style is also learned through family, peers, friends, schools and mass media. Health require promotion of healthy life style. Life style changes contribute significant health problems which leads morbidity and mortality. In developed country health problems are coronary artery disease, obesity, cancer and drug addiction. In developing countries communicable disease by poor sanitation, poor nutrition etc

Health promotion achieved by adopting healthy life style.  

3. Environment

It may be internal or external. Internal means man body, tissue, organ, and organ system.External environment such as personal environment which include the individual life style (eating habits, personal habits: smoking or drinking )

Environmental factors ranges from housing, water supply, psychosocial and family. If any deviation from its normal functioning it will affect the health of individual.

Protection of family and environment is essential.

4.Socio economic conditions.

It influence the health in terms of economic status, education, occupation and political status. Economic status reduce the morbidity and increase life expectancy. It determine the quality of life, family size and pattern of disease. However it adversely affect such as emerging non communicable disease.

Education also prevent malnutrition, illhealth. Productive work promote positive health.

5. Health service : It is spectrum of personal and community treatment of disease, prevention of illness and promotion of health. Example immunization, provision of safe water, care of pregnant women and children.

Health services must be equitably distributed easily accessible at a country and community can afford and socially acceptable.

6.Ageing

It contribute rapid population and also increased prevalence of chronic disease and disabilities.

7. Gender : It focus women issues. So the action are needed nutrition, reproductive health, protection against violence etc.

8. Technology offers easily access to medical information.

Medicine is not the sole contributor to health and well being of population. The potential of intersectoral contributions to health of communities is increasingly recognized.

Reference

Park. K., Text book of prevetive and social medicine, 22nd edition, Bhanot publication (2013) pp : 17-19