Determinants of Health (graded)
What are some factors that make some people healthy and others ill? Healthy People 2020 identifies five determinants of health that influence the health of individuals and populations. Healthy People 2020 describes them as “a range of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health status” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014, About Determinants of Health, para. 1). Determinants fall into five categories including: (a) policy making, (b) social factors, (c) health services, (d) individual behavior, and (e) biology and genetics.
- Go to the “Determinants of Health” link at and click on each determinant to read about them.
- Choose one of the five determinants. In your post, describe this determinant and its importance.
- Discuss how this determinant relates to one intervention from the Public Health Intervention Wheel (Nies & McEwen, 2015, pp. 14–15).
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Healthy People 2020: About Determinants of Health. Retrieved from
Class,
It is essential that nurses look beyond the individual and family to view health from a population perspective in order to promote optimal health. Many factors can influence health, so it is important for nurses to understand the determinants of health in populations. Examine these determinants and choose one to describe, discussing its importance and relationship to the Public Health Intervention Wheel in your post. Your insights will make a great discussion!
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Health is influenced by a range of factors, including personal, social, economic, environmental, and biological factors. These are known as determinants of health, and they can vary from person to person, community to community, and country to country. Understanding these determinants is an essential aspect of public health, and nurses should be aware of them to promote optimal health in populations. In this post, I will discuss one determinant of health and its relationship to the Public Health Intervention Wheel.
Answer:
The determinant of health that I have chosen is social factors. Social factors refer to the social and economic conditions in which people are born, live, grow, work, and age. These factors can affect a person’s health by influencing their access to quality healthcare, education, housing, employment, and other resources. Social factors are important because they can significantly impact health outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations who may face social and economic disadvantages.
One intervention from the Public Health Intervention Wheel that is relevant to social factors is advocacy. Advocacy involves promoting policies and interventions that address social inequalities and promote social justice. This intervention can be used to address the social determinants of health by advocating for policies that ensure access to quality healthcare, fair wages, affordable housing, and better education. It can also involve working to increase public awareness of social determinants of health and their impact on individuals and communities.
In conclusion, social factors are a crucial determinant of health, and nurses must understand their impact on health outcomes. By advocating for policies that address social inequalities, nurses can help improve the health of vulnerable populations and promote social justice.
