Social determinants of health and their contribution in the development of diseases
Social determinants are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age which shapes their conditions of daily life. They are a range of factors both social and economical that influence the health status of an individual. There exists’ a relationship and interactions between the social and economic factors that promote the general well-being of individuals at any given time. These conditions and factors may include; education, income, housing, health services, gender, and food security, among others. A persons’ position in life is associated with a number of factors that may bring diseases and shorten life.
Housing affects an individuals’ health as people who live in slums and overcrowded places are at a higher risk of contracting and transmitting diseases due to lack of clean water and proper sanitization. The high cost of housing affects health as the available resources are limited while low-cost housing may encourage individuals to engage in substance and drug abuse. Poor housing conditions can cause health issues ranging from respiratory disease such as asthma caused by poor ventilation which limits the amount of air circulation.
The gender of an individual is also a determinant in that women have more responsibilities compared to men, and they have to strike a balance between raising the children and attending other household chores. Single mothers are at a higher possibility of entering the poverty stage due to unaffordable child care services which is brought about by the inability to work. The level of discrimination tends to be high on women which may cause low self-esteem which can lead to anxiety. On the other hand, men tend to be workaholics, and this leads them to social exclusion which may lead them to resort to the use of substance and drug addiction.
Employment and right working conditions can affect the health of an individual as people tend to react differently hence affecting the outcome. People may feel demoralized when they think their efforts have not been rewarded despite them meeting deadlines and working under pressure as the environment is not conducive to give their best. This makes them vulnerable to physical and mental illnesses. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and developing cardiovascular diseases may affect individuals with high levels of stress which have been brought about by the environment they are working in.