What Are Social Determinants Of Health? 363993
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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
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They encompass a wide range of socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors such as income, education, employment, community safety, social support, and access to healthcare. These determinants play a crucial role in shaping individual and population health, often contributing to disparities in health status across different communities (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021).
The influence of social determinants on health is profound, as they contribute to the development of illness through multiple pathways. For instance, individuals with low income may lack access to nutritious food, safe housing, or consistent healthcare, increasing their vulnerability to diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or infectious diseases (Braveman et al., 2011). Educational level also affects health literacy and decision-making, impacting health behaviors and utilization of preventive services (Berkman et al., 2011). Environmental factors, including pollution and exposure to toxins, further exacerbate health risks for marginalized populations (WHO, 2021).
A key concept in understanding infectious diseases is the communicable disease chain, which illustrates the steps necessary for disease transmission. This chain includes the infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Interrupting this chain at any link can prevent or control the spread of disease (Simonsen et al., 2017). Nurses are pivotal in this process, implementing measures such as vaccination, education, and infection control practices to break the chain.
For example, in the case of influenza, the infectious agent is the influenza virus. The reservoir includes infected individuals, and the mode of transmission often occurs through respiratory droplets. Nurses can prevent the spread by promoting vaccination to create herd immunity, encouraging hand hygiene, and advising patients on cough etiquette. By vaccinating vulnerable populations, nurses effectively break the link between the infected reservoir and susceptible susceptible hosts, reducing transmission (CDC, 2022).
Globally, addressing social determinants requires an integrated approach involving policy reforms, community engagement, and intersectoral collaborations. Initiatives such as improving access to education, enhancing housing quality, and promoting economic stability are vital in reducing health disparities (WHO, 2021). Public health agencies like the CDC and WHO emphasize the importance of social and environmental factors in disease prevention and health promotion.
In conclusion, understanding the social determinants of health and the communicable disease chain is essential for nurses and public health professionals aiming to reduce disease burden and promote health equity. By implementing targeted interventions and advocating for social change, healthcare workers can significantly contribute to better health outcomes worldwide.
References
Braveman, P., Egerter, S., Williams, D. R. (2011). The Social Determinants of Health: Coming of Age. Annual Review of Public Health, 32, 381-398.
Berkman, L. F., Kawachi, I., Glymour, M. M., et al. (2011). Social Epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Influenza (Flu). https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/index.html
Simonsen, L., Spreeuwenberg, P., Lustig, R. J., et al. (2017). Global Mortality Estimates for the 2009 Influenza Pandemic from the GLaMOR Project. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, 11(2), 240-250.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Social determinants of health. https://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2018). The Chain of Infection. https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/isolation/appendix/chain.html
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). (2020). Advancing health equity and eliminating health disparities. https://thinkhealth.hhs.gov/
Families USA. (2021). Why Global Health Matters—Here and Abroad. https://familiesusa.org/resources/why-global-health-matters/
Please note that my references are formatted in APA style and cover relevant literature on social determinants of health, infectious disease transmission, and public health strategies.