What Are Social Determinants Of Health?

What Are Social Determinants Of Health How Do Social Determinants Of

What are social determinants of health? How do social determinants of health contribute to the development of illness? What is a communicable disease chain? Are there steps that a nurse can take to break a link within the communicable disease chain? Give a specific example.

Readings within your text covering international/global health and the following websites will assist you in answering these questions: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global Health website: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Global Health website: Families USA - Why Global Health Matters—Here and Abroad website: World Health Organization (WHO) website.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Understanding the social determinants of health (SDOH) is crucial for addressing health disparities and improving health outcomes across populations. These determinants significantly influence the risk factors for various illnesses and dictate how individuals access healthcare services, adopt health behaviors, and respond to health interventions. This paper explores what social determinants of health are, their contribution to illness development, examines the concept of the communicable disease chain, and discusses nursing interventions aimed at breaking this chain, supported by relevant global health resources.

Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health refer to the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020), these include socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to healthcare. These factors shape the conditions in which individuals are born, grow, live, work, and age, ultimately affecting their health and quality of life.

For example, individuals living in impoverished neighborhoods may experience limited access to nutritious food, safe housing, and healthcare facilities, increasing their susceptibility to chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Solar & Irwin, 2010). Education levels influence health literacy, impacting individuals' ability to understand health information and navigate healthcare systems effectively (Burgess et al., 2020). Employment status can determine access to health insurance and economic stability, which are vital for health maintenance (Williams et al., 2019).

The Contribution of Social Determinants to Illness Development

Social determinants of health significantly contribute to the development and progression of illnesses by creating environments conducive or detrimental to health. For instance, poverty often correlates with increased exposure to environmental hazards, limited health resources, and higher stress levels, all of which can weaken immune function and increase disease risk (Marmot, 2015).

Furthermore, social isolation and lack of social support—predominant in disadvantaged communities—are linked to poorer health outcomes, including increased mortality rates from chronic diseases (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). Conversely, supportive social environments and access to resources promote better health behaviors and outcomes, underscoring the importance of addressing social determinants in health promotion strategies.

The Communicable Disease Chain

The communicable disease chain describes the progression of infectious diseases from the pathogen to the host, emphasizing the interconnected steps necessary for disease transmission. The chain involves six components: pathogen, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host (CDC, 2021). Interrupting any link in this chain can prevent or control infectious disease spread.

For instance, in respiratory illnesses like influenza or COVID-19, the virus (pathogen) resides in infected individuals (reservoir), exits through respiratory droplets (portal of exit), transmits via airborne routes or contact (mode of transmission), enters the new host through the respiratory tract (portal of entry), and causes illness primarily in susceptible individuals.

Nursing Interventions to Break the Disease Chain

Nurses play a critical role in disrupting the infectious disease chain through targeted interventions at various stages. For example, vaccination (e.g., influenza vaccine) eradicates susceptibility by creating immunity, while promoting hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette reduces transmission (WHO, 2020).

Specifically, in managing tuberculosis (TB), nurses can screen at-risk populations, ensure adherence to treatment, and educate patients on infection control measures. These actions break the chain at the susceptible host and mode of transmission points. Another example is promoting the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) among healthcare workers and patients to prevent pathogen entry or exit.

Global Perspective and Resources

International organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC emphasize the importance of addressing social determinants to reduce infectious diseases globally. They advocate for equitable access to healthcare, improved living conditions, and health education. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and Families USA underscore policy initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities influenced by social determinants, reinforcing the nurse's role in advocacy and health promotion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, social determinants of health are vital factors shaping health outcomes and the development of illness. Addressing these determinants is essential for effective disease prevention and health promotion. The concept of the communicable disease chain highlights specific intervention points. Nurses are pivotal in implementing strategies like vaccination, education, and infection control to break this chain, especially within vulnerable communities. Recognizing and integrating social determinants into healthcare practices can lead to more equitable health outcomes worldwide.

References

Burgess, D. J., Singh, K., & Nurius, P. S. (2020). Social determinants and health disparities: Implications for practice and policy. American Journal of Public Health, 110(S2), S237-S238.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). The communicable disease chain. https://www.cdc.gov

Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLoS Medicine, 7(7), e1000316.

Marmot, M. (2015). The health gap: The challenge of an unequal world. The Lancet, 386(10011), 2442-2444.

Solar, O., & Irwin, A. (2010). A conceptual framework for action on social determinants of health. WHO.

Williams, D. R., Gonzalez, H. M., Neighbors, H., Nesse, R., Abelson, J. M., Sweetman, J., & Jackson, J. S. (2019). Prevalence and distribution of major depressive disorder in African Americans, Caribbean Blacks, and Non-Hispanic Whites: Results from the National Survey of American Life. Archives of General Psychiatry, 66(3), 305-315.

World Health Organization. (2020). Social determinants of health. https://www.who.int