ANSWER
Health Equity via Social Determinants of Health
Overview
The non-clinical elements that affect both individual and community health outcomes—such as financial security, education, social context, residential settings, and access to healthcare—are referred to as social determinants of health (SDOH). In order to address gaps among communities and shape health equity, SDOH is essential, according to Healthy People 2030. In order to address SDOH and build a healthier society, a multi-sectoral strategy combining healthcare systems, community-based interventions, policy, and advocacy is needed (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2019). This study examines the effects of SDOH, the difficulties caused by disparities, and methods for successfully addressing these factors.
Social Determinants of Health’s Effects
Through influencing personal habits and determining access to necessary resources, SDOH has a substantial impact on health outcomes. According to research, healthcare services only contribute 20% of health outcomes, but SDOH account for over 80% of them (Artiga & Hinton, 2018). Key elements of SDOH and their effects are listed below:
Economic Stability: Access to wholesome food, secure housing, and preventive treatment is hampered by financial hardship. According to Braveman and Gottlieb (2019), poverty is associated with a lower life expectancy and a higher prevalence of chronic illnesses.
For instance, people in low-income areas frequently put their urgent needs—like food or housing—above health care, which contributes to the persistence of poor health outcomes.
Education Quality and Access: Decision-making, job prospects, and health literacy are all impacted by educational attainment. Higher rates of obesity, chronic diseases, and tobacco use are linked to lower levels of education (Zimmerman et al., 2020).
For instance, underprivileged schools frequently lack resources, which results in cycles of low health literacy across generations.
Social and Community Context: Community unity and social support systems guard against threats to one’s physical and emotional well-being. On the other hand, discrimination or social exclusion increases stress and leads to negative consequences (Marmot et al., 2020).
Neighborhood and Built Environment: In marginalized populations, unsafe neighborhoods, food deserts, and pollution exposure are common and can exacerbate mental health issues, obesity, and asthma.
Healthcare Access and Quality: Disparities are made worse by obstacles to care, such as expense, insurance, and geographic difficulties. Conditions frequently remain misdiagnosed until they become serious in the absence of preventive services.
Challenges in Addressing Social Determinants of Health Funding constraints, political obstacles, and a lack of intersectoral cooperation are some of the systemic issues that affect efforts to address SDOH. The following are the main obstacles:
Allocation of Resources: Acute care is frequently given priority over preventative interventions aimed at SDOH in government and healthcare funding (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2019).
Disparities in the system: Disparities in health outcomes and resource distribution have persisted for a long time due to historical discrimination and structural racism.
Community Engagement: Communities must actively participate in interventions for them to be effective. Engagement attempts are complicated by resistance or mistrust brought on by prior neglect.
Methods for Resolving Social Determinants of Health
Equity can be promoted and inequities can be decreased by putting specific methods to address SDOH into practice. The following strategies have proven effective:
Reform and Policy Advocacy: It is crucial to support laws that deal with issues like housing security, educational access, and income disparity. Federal nutrition assistance and Medicaid expansion are two programs that have demonstrated quantifiable advantages for low-income populations (Berkowitz et al., 2020).
For instance, increasing the minimum wage and funding programs for affordable housing can have a direct effect on health by lowering stress levels and enhancing living circumstances.
Community-Based Interventions: Tailored solutions are offered by regional initiatives created to address particular SDOH issues. In food deserts, for example, farmers’ markets and community gardens increase access to wholesome food (Zimmerman et al., 2020).
Integration of Social Services with Healthcare: Holistic care is ensured by integrating social service referrals into healthcare systems. Assessing patients for food insecurity, transportation difficulties, and housing instability aids in addressing the underlying reasons of ill health.
For instance, by including nutrition support into patient treatment, the “Food as Medicine” effort lowers hospitalization rates among communities experiencing food insecurity (Berkowitz et al., 2020).
Campaigns for Education and Awareness:
Raising public knowledge of SDOH and its impacts motivates legislators to remove structural obstacles and promotes community action.
Case Study: Resolving Insecurity in Housing
One important SDOH that has an impact on both mental and physical health is housing insecurity. Stable housing is made available through programs like the “Housing First” project, which serves as a springboard for tackling other health issues like substance abuse and mental illness. According to a study using this approach, permanent housing enhanced long-term health outcomes and decreased ER visits (Marmot et al., 2020).
In conclusion
Reducing health disparities and attaining fair results require addressing social determinants of health. The fundamental tenets of health equity include social support, education, economic stability, safe surroundings, and access to high-quality healthcare. A route to addressing SDOH is provided by efficient tactics, such as integrated care models, community-based initiatives, and legislative reform. Improving the health of vulnerable communities and bringing about systemic change require a cooperative, multi-sectoral approach.
Citations
Hinton, E., and S. Artiga (2018). The contribution of social determinants to the advancement of health and health equity goes beyond medical care. The Kaiser Family Foundation. 9781071803006.n8 https://doi.org/10.4135).
Steiner, B., Ruazol, M. P., Singh, R., Shahid, N. N., Berkowitz, S. A., Delahanty, L. M., Terranova, J., & Wexler, D. J. (2020). A randomized cross-over study of medically customized meal delivery for diabetics experiencing food poverty. 35(3), 712-719, Journal of General Internal Medicine. 10.1007/s11606-019-05391-0 https://doi.org
Gottlieb, L., and Braveman, P. (2019). It’s time to think about the causes of the causes when it comes to the social determinants of health. Reports on Public Health, 129(S2), 19–31. 10.1177/00333549141291S206
Marmot, M., Morrison, J., Allen, J., Boyce, T., & Goldblatt, P. (2020). The Marmot review ten years later: health equity in England. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m693 BMJ, 368, m693.
Haley, A., Woolf, S. H., and Zimmerman, E. (2020). A evaluation of the available data and an analysis of community viewpoints are necessary to comprehend the connection between health and education. 125–139 in Population Health, 8(4). 10.1016/j.pophealth.2019.08.003 at https://doi.org
QUESTION
TOPIC: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
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