Social Determinants Of Health Essay

Words: 619
Pages: 3

1. What are the benefits to a society for taking action on a social determinants of health perspective?

Globalisation is both an opportunity and a threat in dealing with social, economic, political and environmental factors that impact on health and wellbeing. It’s an opportunity in that it provides scope for shared responsibility and action (shared strategies and funding arrangements) to address global health challenges but, it also threatens health gains (disease burden and higher financial investment) in advanced economies because of increased pathogen flows due to improved global mobility (Labonté, Mohindra, & Schrecker, 2011, p. 263). Collaborative involvement of global entities and nation states with communities to address issues of
…show more content…
Carey and Crammond (2014, p. 498) identified proportionate universalism in public health policy as an effective tool for bridging the health gap because resources are proportionately shared according to the level of disadvantage. Such a targeted model has the potential to address inequities by systematically addressing risk factors that impact on the health of the most vulnerable. In their review of 32 studies addressing social determinants of health, Taylor et al. (2016) found that most improved outcomes were realised in non-health aspects with housing support as highest at 31%, followed by care coordination and community outreach programs at 25%. Participation of communities in programmes that address their housing needs and their need for social connectedness has potential to improve their health outcomes. When factors impacting health outcomes for the most vulnerable are ameliorated, the health benefits trickle down to the whole population, improving the general wellbeing of the whole (Lin, Smith & Fawkes,