SOCIAL DETERMINANT

Social determinant of health



Social determinant of health

Introduction

The social determinants of health are essential factors promoting a healthy living in our society. According to WHO, this social determinant of health refers to the “conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, including the health system,” (WHO 2013). The global, national, as well as, local distribution of power, money, and resources shapes these circumstances leading to overall health conditions of the society. WHO claims that these social determinants of health are primarily responsible for the health discrimination between countries, implying to the unfair plus avoidable differences of health status (WHO 2013).

The continuously increasing concerns regarding the persisting and widening health inequalities within and between the countries encouraged WHO to establish the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) in the year of 2005. The Commission offered advises on ways to reduce these health inequities between countries (WHO 2013).

The social determinants make believe that health begins from the individuals' immediate environment, including of home, office, schools, neighbourhoods, and their community. Some of the influences on our health comprises of taking nutritionally balanced diet, avoiding smoking, getting timely vaccinations and screening tests, and seeking doctors' help on time, all promoting our overall health. Furthermore, health is also influenced significantly by the economic and social factors, involving the quality of schools, workplace safety standards, pureness of drinking water, food, and air, as well as the relationships and social interactions. The society we live in determines why in some society's people are healthier than others (Healthy people, 2013).

The conditions in this setting are often referred to as “place.” Moreover, not only the material attributes to these “place,” the overall pattern involving social engagements and sense well-being affects where people live. The health outcomes of the population also have considerable influences from the various resources that enhance the quality of life. Some examples of resources can include affordable and safe house, easily accessible education, overall public safety, healthy food availability, locally accessible emergency/heath services, and a toxin free environment (Healthy people, 2013). This report focuses on the population of Hackney Borough, London. The aim of the study is to identify the risk factors, and the contributions towards the high mortality rate due to coronary heart diseases among the community.

Discussion

Demographic outline of Hackney

Hackney is an inner London Borough, which is vibrant and consistently growing. Currently, it comprises of the population of 208,365. Within ten years, Hackney's population has seen an increase of almost 12 percent. It forms the fifth smallest borough of London, with a total geographical area of 18.98 km only. The population is spread evenly over the entire area; however, the southern part of the borough, especially the Shoreditch area observes higher densities of the population. The highlight of the borough has always been its multi-ethnic population, with almost 41 percent of the population belonging to non-white ethnic groups. Within London, this ranks Hackney as the sixth Borough, after Newham, Brent, tower Hamlets, Ealing, and ...