Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample
Assignment Three—Changing the Social Determinants of Health 40%
In Part Two of the course, we studied how our health is affected by what we eat, where we live, how we work, and our exposure to violence. In Part Three of the course, we will study the political economic context through which our health, or lack of health, is organized. In this Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample, you will write a short synthesis for each of week five to week twelve. Below are guiding questions listed by the corresponding week number:
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- What are some of the inherent problems with capitalist food production? How does our social location affect our access to good food?
- How does inadequate housing negatively impact our health? What other aspects of our surroundings should we consider? Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
- How does the organization of work affect our health? What changes might we make to the way our work is organized to make it safer and healthier for all?
- How does violence affect our health? What are some of the forms of violence that affect people locally and/or globally?
- What are some policies and practices of settler colonial states toward Indigenous peoples? What are some ways that colonialism affects people’s health locally and/or globally?
- How does the capitalist economy affect our health? How does the capitalist economy affect healthcare?
- What might medicine look like if it were organized based on human need rather than capitalist imperatives? How might our ideas of health and illness change if we base our society on equity? Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample
- What political interventions are needed to improve people’s health locally and/or globally, especially those who are socially ‘disadvantaged’? What are some challenges to organizing for change?
Assignment Three—The Social Determinants of Health
This paper is an essay that provides answers to several questions related to the study of social determinants of health. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
Discussion
- What are some of the inherent problems with capitalist food production? How does our social location affect our access to good food?
The system of capitalist food production is centered on obtaining food based on a person’s economic and financial capabilities. This means that one’s ability to eat a given meal is particularly pegged on their level of income and standard of living. Capitalist food production poses a lot of problems to the present generation since it denies the poor and underprivileged the chance to enjoy a healthy diet (Varcoe et al, 2016). v
This is because those who have plenty continue to enjoy it at the expense of those who cannot be able to buy a decent meal. The social location is an important factor that determines how people are able to access good and quality food. People who reside in affluent or wealthy neighborhoods are able to enjoy the best quality meals. Additionally, they are able to eat healthy meals because they have the access of all the nutritious food. This is in stark contrast to people living in impoverished places where accessibility to good food is highly limited.
- How does inadequate housing negatively impact our health? What other aspects of our surroundings should we consider?
Housing and accommodation is considered an important determinant to health because it provides shelter against harsh and unfriendly weather. Additionally, good housing is able to offer people the amenities that they need to lead a comfortable life. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample. People who live or reside in poor or inadequate housing structures often jeopardize their health because they cannot be able to protect themselves in the right manner (Global Health Watch, 2017).For instance, people who live in homes that are poorly roofed or adequately wired with electricity stand a higher chance of contracting different forms of disease and infections.
In fact, this people are at a higher risk of developing serious illnesses such as breathing complications or even respiratory failure. The opposite is true for people who live in decent housing where they get to be sheltered from all forms of health risks. This is why it is important to live in a decent home where people can be protected from harsh weather and unpredictable climate. It is also crucial for surroundings to be clean so as to maintain good hygiene standards for the benefit of one’s health. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
- How does the organization of work affect our health? What changes might we make to the way our work is organized to make it safer and healthier for all?
Work is an integral pillar of living that provides people the chance to improve their standards of living. However, there are certain professions that increase the risk of people falling ill based on whether they come into contact with health hazards. For instance, people that work with factory emissions, chemicals or even toxic materials are at a higher risk of contracting serious diseases. Similarly, people that work in an office environment all day also lead a sedentary lifestyle that can negatively impact on health (Global Health Watch, 2017).
The organization of work ought to be done in such a manner that it is both safe and healthy for the employee and employer. This means that protective equipment should be given to people working with health hazards while those who work passively should engage in active exercises for their own personal merit. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
- How does violence affect our health? What are some of the forms of violence that affect people locally and/or globally?
The eruption of violence of any form or design is a serious threat to the health of people. This is because violence affects economic stability and it becomes difficult for people to access health care. additionally, violence is known to cause a lot of injury and suffering to its victims such that some of them are left with lifetime scars (Global Health Watch, 2017). Politically instigated violence is one classic example of violence that affects people both locally and globally. This form of violence is known to have a lot of casualties where people are either injured, harmed or even maimed for life. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample. Ethnic and tribal clashes are another form of violence that is common in the African continent and it affects the health of people in a myriad of ways. Political and national leaders have the mandate to shun violence since it is a deterrent to the enjoyment of good health.
- What are some policies and practices of settler colonial states toward Indigenous peoples? What are some ways that colonialism affects people’s health locally and/or globally?
Colonialism is an age-old practice that is synonymous with the oppression of indigenous and native citizens. The colonial masters were well known for being high handed such that they denied innocent people the access to basic needs and wants. One example of a practice of colonial settler states is that they made social services a preserve of the rich and denied the indigenous people the chance to enjoy them (Global Health Watch, 2017).This is perfectly demonstrated through amenities such as education, health care or even decent housing. The fact that the local people were denied quality and affordable health care meant that they were left to suffer from the complications brought about even by simple infections. Health care is a right that should be accorded every individual despite their social status or position in society. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
- How does the capitalist economy affect our health? How does the capitalist economy affect healthcare?
The capitalist economy is founded upon the principle that people can only access the commodities and assets based on their financial ability. The same reasoning applies to health were people can only access medical facilities based on whether they can afford it or not. This means that even if a person is critically ill and they do not have the money to pay for medication, then little can be done to help them. The capitalist economy has been blamed for making health care very costly and expensive since other countries have even introduced the concept of insurance covers (Global Health Watch, 2017). Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
The latter are meant to make people pay for their own medical care on a regular fashion so that when they fall sick they can walk into a hospital and receive medical attention even if they do not have tangible money. However, this system is also quite expensive since the insurance premiums are supposed to be paid on a monthly basis. The capitalist economy has redefined the meaning of health care and made it an expensive service that can only be enjoyed by the wealthy in society Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
- What might medicine look like if it were organized based on human need rather than capitalist imperatives? How might our ideas of health and illness change if we base our society on equity?
Medication and health care would have a totally new meaning if these amenities were organized based on human need. This would allow people to receive quality medical care at the point they needed it instead of suffering due to lack of money to buy drugs or visit a hospital. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample. The idea or notion of health would totally change if people based their reasoning on equality and fairness (Global Health Watch, 2017). This approach would make it possible for a person to walk into a hospital or health center and receive treatment for the disease or infection that they may have.
This is a function that has not been made possible by capitalist imperatives which peg a lot of importance on first come first served basis. Additionally, capitalism has made people believe that money is the only resource that dictates whether a person can enjoy good health or not. This reasoning ought to be overturned by social equity as it would streamline the health sector and every person would be assured and guaranteed of accessing medical attention even when they lack enough money. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
- What political interventions are needed to improve people’s health locally and/or globally, especially those who are socially ‘disadvantaged’? What are some challenges to organizing for change?
The improvement of health care requires to be done in an urgent fashion so that it can benefit the people who are termed as socially disadvantaged. This process needs to be done through political interventions where people in power ought to come up with policies and regulations that can fight for the poor and underprivileged in society (Global Health Watch, 2017). An example of how to go about this is by streamlining the medical sector and making health care affordable to every person. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
This can be done by placing a fair price on medication and at the same time ensuring that doctors do not charge exorbitant prices for their services. However, there are several challenges that are bound to come with the process of organizing for change in the medical sector. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample The first one is the issue of financial and monetary resources where it would be such an expensive affair to introduce a streamlined process for accessing medical care. It would require political governments a lot of money to try to equalize the health sector such that people pay the same cost and charge for a similar diagnostic test (Global Health Watch, 2017).
The achievement of equity in a local or global scale is not an easy journey but it would be worthwhile to put it to the test and evaluate its performance in intervals. The evaluation of these questions has shed a lot of light on the topic of social determinants of health and it demonstrates how external factors influence the quality of medical care. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample.
References
Global Health Watch. 2017. The Revival Of Community Health Workers In National Health Systems.
Global Health Watch .2017. Climate Cr.
Global Health Watch. 2017. UNICEF and the ‘medicalisation’ of malnutrition in children.
Global Health Watch .2017 Private Sector Influence On Public Health Policy. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample
Global Health Watch .2017. The pharmaceutical industry and pharmaceutical endeavor.
Global Health Watch .2017. Cholera Epidemic In Haiti
Global Health Watch .2017. The Movement For Change.
Global Health Watch .2017. Cuba’s International Cooperation In Health
Global Health Watch .2017. Aboriginal Communit Y-Controlled Health Services In Australia.
Global Health Watch .2017. Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services In Australia.
Varcoe, C. Pauly, B and Shari. L. (2016). Intersecting justice and influencing policy. Health Inequities in Canada : Intersectional Frameworks and Practices. Social Determinants of Health Essay Assignment Sample