Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health: What Do You Need To Know About.

The last few years has seen the harsh realities and issues related to health equity and the social determinants of health begin to take center stage, calling for action to ameliorate the underlying causes of health disparities across various populations. Health equity implies that every individual has a fair and just chance to be as health such the best possible level of health, while social determinants of health involve the factors that have an impact on health that are not directly related to healthcare, such as income level, education, and provision of health facilities among others.

Thus, the rapid latencies in which health equity has been approached underscores its importance in the improvement of health of populations and even addressing the sociopolitical structures that disadvantage many people within various societies. The current paper discusses the essence of health equity, the influence of social determinants of health and contemporary approaches that may assist in making the health care delivery system more fair and equitable.

Defining Health Equity

Health equity comprehends principles of social justice that dictates that there should be no inequities in health and health care that are systemic and avoidable. There are many different forms of measures which are attempted under the term of health inequality such as mortality rates, life expectancy, and health inequality which includes disability adjustment of health. The definition of health equity discriminates a provision of equal health factors for all regardless of ability to pay (health equality) from the maximization of health benefits equality across populations (health equity). It is solely with health equity provisions that it is permissible to expend resources in creating an imbalance about some none fatal conditions for the benefit of most beneficialing objects of intervention.

For instance – if you bring healthcare facilities on par in an affluent city area as well as a poor rural locality, this is no assurance that there will be a good standard of health in the two areas. In the latter group, they could experience transport-related barriers, fewer health care service providers or affordable care options. It is hence, apparent that health equity seeks to address the barriers that exist in such communities in an effort to promote good health for every individual in the society.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Health Equity

According to the World Health Organization, social determinants of health are specifically the societal conditions within which populations or individuals are born, develop, survive, and mature and the consequences of these conditions. SDOH encompasses a number of factors including but not limited to:

Economic Stability:

There is ordinarily a relation between income level, employment, and accessibility of medical facilities and means for feeding oneself and where to live as well as the general health of people. Many low-income individuals encounter a failure to seek out preventive health, or are unable to prevent or control existing conditions as effectively, resulting in worse health consequences.

Education:

It is common knowledge that the level of education has such an impact that one can link it with health. This is because higher education qualifications give better employment, more money, and more health-related knowledge. Low level of education is a barrier I believe most people do not know how to utilize the health care systems, do not know the preventative measures that can be taken, and cannot make decisions on their health.

Social and Community Context:

Health is significantly determined by an individual’s social domain such as family, friends and colleagues. Social health benefits do depend on the persons’ sense of belonging, and lowered chances of stress and discrimination.

Healthcare Access and Quality:

Healthcare is one of the essential aspects of health and well-being of the population, that can be affected by the social determinants. Factors such as having health insurance, distance from medical facilities and even the level of care given to the patients can affect the ability and timeliness of the intervention and or treatment.

Neighborhood and Built Environment:

The area in which a person resides may be the determinant of their health status. In communities where children have safe homes, fresh air, parks, and food, there are better health results. On the other hand, people in neighborhoods where there are environmental issues, many people have no working places, and other similar problems faces a bigger health threat.

Food Security:

It is necessary for ensuring healthy living that one is able to afford and obtain healthy food. Food deserts, known as low-income sectors which provide limited or no healthy food options, encourage individuals to eat the wrong diet; this results in nutritional deficiency, obesity, diabetes, heart diseases and so on.

Health Disparities and Their Impact

Health disparity is defined as the universal term describing the difference in clinicians’ assessments or health outcomes and healthcare received through different means. Social factors influence the social determinants of health, and hence these determinants affect health. These differences are mostly felt among certain races and ethnicities as well as the poor, rural and disadvantaged populations.

In other words:

Racial and Ethnic Disparities: These minorities experience systemic oppression in obtaining quality healthcare. In the United States, the prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes sanitary issues aggravates etc., is more among Black, Indigenous, Latino communities than among the Whites. Structures and ethnics and everything are of a larger eating up by systemic races, lack of economic, or barriers to accessing health care services.

Challenges to poor health such as those from minorities or economically disadvantaged groups: Spatial equity on that aspect of healthcare is poorly practised thus resulting to out of date treatment. Cost of living and remoteness from services force the Rural people to the use of cheap and unsafe means. Other issues that influence access to health care in a rural setting include poverty, lack of health and lack of means of transportation to the health care facilities.

Gender and Sexual Identity: People belonging to certain gender and sexual orientation are also denied the opportunity to realize their rights because of healthcare barriers. For example in America, transgender patients may be discriminated against in health care settings and this can prevent them from accessing appropriate healthcare resources. In the same way, women including those from disadvantaged groups tend to experience challenges in accessing contraceptive services as well as maternal health services.

The Way Out to Achieving Health Equity

Achieving health equity is difficult and always requires multiple strategies at three levels: policy, community and individual. Below are some key strategies to travelling through health disparities and, eventually, to build up health equity:

Policy Level Changes for Health Equity

Universal Health Care Access: Seeking of affordable health care access for all is one of the prerequisites to such goal as health equity. It is the responsibility of the politicians to make sure that all persons irrespective of their social levels have access and use health services where need be. Policies should be enacted that remove issues like poor insurance, costs or bad location.

Social Safety Nets: Reducing health disparities can also be done by strengthening safety net programs that include housing, food and income assistance. Health program like Medicate and SNAP as well as affordable housing assistance can improve the health determinants of high risk communities.

Paid Sick Leave and Family Leave: It is crucial that sick leave and family leave with pay be available to all employees, in order to help prevent the further transmission of conditions and so that householders could tend for their own health or their family member’s health without putting themselves in the danger of growing further indebted.

Community-Level Interventions for Health Equity

Community Health Workers: Supporting community health workers to bridge the healthcare access gaps can assist individuals to make sense of the intricate healthcare systems, become aware of their health issues, and avail of the undiagnosed healthcare services. It is common to have these personnel residing within the communities they serve and this promotes the provision of support that is culturally appropriate.

Improving Healthcare Infrastructure: Focused on the geographical areas with low health care resources like rural centres or inner-city poor areas can also help to ease the burden of care access. This refers to increasing the number of healthcare staffing, facilities and available service provision in these areas.

Culturally Competent Care: Primary care providers need to be trained and educated in cultural implications for effective healthcare delivery. Every population has a behavioral pattern, and addressing their specific focuses will greatly enhance their health and the level of confidence placed in the medical profession.

Individual-Level Interventions

Health Literacy Programs: A clear understanding of health risks and ways of averting them (through healthy lifestyles) is necessary as a health intervention. Health programs need to focus on the needs of various target groups especially those with little education or language barriers.

Mental Health Support: Bringing out equitable mental health services especially within the marginalized groups is key in addressing health inequities. The mental health issues comes in very close relationship with other issues related to social determinants of health and making the mental healthcare services available and affordable will contribute positively to health.

Addressing Implicit Bias: Healthcare providers need to be trained on how to manage and even eliminate the implicit bias that that can affect care for a particular group of people. Addressing bias in the healthcare system can enhance bias-sensitive treatment of disadvantaged populations and bring about improved health of these populations.

Conclusion

The advancement of health equity and inclusion, as well as addressing the social determinants of health are issues that matters to millions of people around the world. The elimination of identifiable and social factors that lead to health inequalities must be addressed through systemic approaches utilizing policy reform, community involvement, and personal initiative. Let us imagine a world where every person can reach optimal health through inclusion in healthcare interventions, improvement of social determinants and enhancing access to reasonable care. This may not be an easy path to walk given the complexities associated with it, but it is possible in the new future if we work together to make the world fair and healthier.

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