What Are Social Determinants Of Health? 249825
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
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These determinants encompass a wide range of social, economic, and environmental conditions that affect individuals' health status. Understanding these determinants is essential for addressing health disparities and improving health at both individual and population levels. This paper explores what social determinants of health are, how they contribute to disease development, examines the concept of the communicable disease chain, and discusses how nursing interventions can disrupt this chain with a specific example.
Understanding Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2021), these determinants include factors such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to healthcare. These factors significantly influence health risks, behaviors, and ultimately, health outcomes (Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 2008). For example, individuals living in impoverished neighborhoods may have limited access to nutritious foods, safe housing, and healthcare services, leading to increased susceptibility to illness.
How Social Determinants Contribute to Illness
Social determinants of health contribute to illness through multiple pathways. Economic instability, for instance, can result in poor nutrition and inadequate housing, which increase vulnerability to infectious and chronic diseases. Educational disparities may limit awareness about health-promoting behaviors, thereby increasing risky behaviors such as smoking or unsafe sexual practices. Environmental factors, such as exposure to pollution, can result in respiratory illnesses (Kawachi et al., 2002). Moreover, social support networks and community cohesion influence mental health and resilience, impacting overall well-being.
Research indicates that populations experiencing adverse social determinants are disproportionately affected by diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infectious diseases (Breen et al., 2018). For example, income inequality correlates with higher rates of heart disease, partly due to reduced access to healthcare and healthy lifestyles among lower socioeconomic groups. These disparities highlight the importance of addressing social determinants to reduce health inequities.
The Communicable Disease Chain
The communicable disease chain represents the sequence of events that allow an infectious disease to spread. It includes the infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host (CDC, 2022). Disrupting any link in this chain can prevent disease transmission.
For example, in the case of influenza, the virus (agent) resides in infected individuals' respiratory secretions (reservoir). The virus exits the body via respiratory droplets during coughing or sneezing (portal of exit). These droplets can be transmitted through direct contact or aerosols (mode of transmission), entering another person's respiratory system through inhalation or contact with mucous membranes (portal of entry). If the new host is susceptible, infection occurs, continuing the chain scope.
Role of Nurses in Breaking the Chain
Nurses play a vital role in preventing the spread of communicable diseases by implementing strategies that target various links in the chain. They can promote vaccination, educate patients about hygiene practices, use personal protective equipment, and advocate for infection control protocols.
A specific example is influenza prevention during flu season. Nurses educate the community about the importance of annual flu vaccination to bolster the susceptible host population. Additionally, they promote hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette (covering coughs and sneezes), and proper use of personal protective equipment. During outbreaks, nurses can assist in contact tracing and isolation procedures to prevent further transmission (WHO, 2018). These interventions directly break the chain of transmission, reducing disease incidence.
Conclusion
Social determinants of health deeply influence the development and distribution of illness within populations. By addressing factors like socioeconomic status, education, and environment, healthcare providers and policymakers can mitigate health disparities. Understanding the communicable disease chain allows nurses and other health professionals to apply targeted interventions that interrupt disease transmission. Through education, vaccinations, and infection control measures, nurses can play a crucial role in breaking links in the chain, thereby improving public health outcomes.
References
- Breen, N., Smith, G., & Johnson, J. (2018). Addressing social determinants of health through community-based interventions. Journal of Public Health Policy, 39(4), 523-534.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). The infectious disease transmission cycle. https://www.cdc.gov
- Commission on Social Determinants of Health. (2008). Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on social determinants of health. World Health Organization.
- Kawachi, I., Subramanian, S. V., & Kim, D. (2002). Social capital and health: A new paradigm. Social Science & Medicine, 58(8), 1265-1275.
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Social determinants of health. https://www.who.int
- World Health Organization (WHO). (2018). Infection prevention and control. https://www.who.int
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Disease Transmission. https://www.cdc.gov
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). (2020). Global health initiatives. https://www.hhs.gov
- Families USA. (2019). Why global health matters—here and abroad. https://familiesusa.org