Question

1. what examples of health inequities.

2. Using the health equity framework, in what ways do health promotion interventions, in

either virtual setting, address the determinants of health and health equity?

3. What skills do you need to have in order to engage in advocacy on the social

determinants of health?

Answer 1

The life expectancy of people with learning disabilities is substantially shorter than the Scottish average. Gender-based violence is experienced unequally with 17% of women and 7% of men have experienced the use of force from a partner or ex-partner at some point in their lives. Health inequalities can therefore involve

-differences in health status, the example would be life expectancy and prevalence of health conditions.

-access to care, the example is the availability of treatment.

-quality and experience of care, the example is levels of patient satisfaction.

stigma and racism are underlying, contributing factors of health inequalities.

Making the settings where people live and work more supportively of health and health choices has long been recognized as an optimum way to improve population health. The WHO recognizes the policies and institutional practices shape the opportunities of people to lead healthy

Healthcare providers can address social determinants of health through five approaches, they are awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment and advocacy. Social determinants have a major impact on health outcomes, especially for the most vulnerable populations. Factors such as a patient’s education, income level and environment must be considered when providing treatment and care. Social determinants of health such as poverty, unequal access to health care, lack of education, lives. The importance of considering how to address the social determinants of health inequalities within settings has been stressed in the three reports of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, Marmot, Marmot et al.

The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and play, which influence health. These conditions and the structural processes that distribute them unequally in society. The social determinants of health inequalities are depicted in three layers of influence and entry point for actions:

1. The socioeconomic, political and cultural context.

2. Daily living conditions.

3. Individual health-related factors.

These layers and the process of social stratification which interacts with them create health inequalities. Although equity should be central to promoting health within settings, not all healthy settings approach to focus on equity and consider how they could impact more on people who are at risk and who are poorer health. Some settings approaches may address equity by being undertaken in a disadvantaged are or setting with a large proportion of people living in disadvantaged circumstances. Addressing inequality requires not just addressing disadvantaged group but also levelling the social gradient in health, so the middle groups experience health that is closer to both the top and bottom group.

Public Health Advocacy is a critical population health strategy that emphasizes collective action to effect systemic change. It focuses on changing upstream factors related to the social determinants of health, and explicity recognizes the importance of engaging in political processes to effect desired policy changes at organizational and system levels. It also influences decision making to create positive change for people and their environment. The following skills must be incuded:

1. Sholuld have the skill for Strengthening individuals.

2. Strengthening communities.

3. The skill must be such which focus on Improving living and working conditions.

4. Promoting healthy macro-policies.