Influence Of Social Determinants Of Health And Health Outcom

Influence Of Social Determinants Of Health And Health Outcomeschoose O

Influence of Social Determinants of Health and Health Outcomes Choose one topic for your initial post: 1. What are social determinants of health? How do they impact health outcomes; more specifically minority populations? 2. Whose responsibility is it to address inequities in health and in society? What about government? What role should government play and why? 3. Many Americans, when confronted with evidence of health inequities, respond that the outcomes are unfortunate but not necessarily unjust. Do you agree or disagree, why? Responses should be no less than 250 words in length not including your reference(s) and supported by at least two references (aside from the textbook).

Paper For Above instruction

Social determinants of health (SDOH) refer to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These conditions significantly influence a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes. The World Health Organization emphasizes that social determinants are largely responsible for health inequities, shaping the distribution of health outcomes across different population groups (WHO, 2021). These determinants include factors such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to healthcare.

Minority populations, particularly African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and other marginalized groups, often face compounded disadvantages due to social determinants. For instance, limited access to quality education and healthcare, residing in environments with higher pollution or violence, and experiencing financial instability exacerbate health disparities. These factors contribute to higher prevalence rates of chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues among minority populations (Williams & Mohammed, 2009). Structural racism and socioeconomic inequality further compound these disparities, resulting in worse health outcomes for these groups compared to majority populations (Williams et al., 2010).

Addressing health inequities is a shared responsibility. While societal and community efforts are critical, government plays a pivotal role in implementing policies that promote health equity. Governments can influence social determinants through initiatives such as improving housing standards, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services, investing in education and employment programs, and enacting anti-discrimination laws. Public policies targeted at reducing poverty, enhancing social support networks, and eliminating systemic racism are essential to close health gaps (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014). Without government intervention, disparities rooted in social determinants are likely to persist, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage.

Many Americans perceive health outcomes as unfortunate but not inherently unjust, viewing personal responsibility as the primary factor. I disagree with this perspective because it neglects the systemic inequalities that underpin health disparities. Health inequities are unjust because they are avoidable and are shaped by social and economic policies that favor certain groups over others (Braveman et al., 2011). Recognizing health inequities as unjust emphasizes the moral and ethical imperative for societal intervention to promote fairness and social justice, rather than accepting disparities as natural or inevitable (Phelan et al., 2010).

References

• Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: It's time to consider the causes of the causes. Public Health Reports, 129(Suppl 2), 19-31.
• Phelan, J. C., Link, B. G., & Tehranifar, P. (2010). Social conditions as fundamental causes of health inequalities: Theory, evidence, and policy implications. Journal of Health & Social Behavior, 51(Suppl), S28-S40.
• Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2009). Discrimination and racial disparities in health: Evidence and needed research. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(1), 20-47.
• Williams, D. R., et al. (2010). Race, socioeconomic status, and health: Complexities, ongoing challenges, and research opportunities. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1186, 21-36.
• World Health Organization. (2021). Social determinants of health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health