Social Determinants of Health

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Social Determinants of Health - Beyond The Clinic

  • SDH: Non-medical factors influencing health outcomes. Conditions where people are born, grow, live, work, age.
  • WHO Definition: "The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age."
  • Importance: Majorly impact health status; addressing them is key to health equity (fair health opportunities for all).
  • Framework: WHO's CSDH (Commission on Social Determinants of Health) framework provides a conceptual model. Dahlgren-Whitehead model of social determinants of health

⭐ According to WHO, SDH are responsible for the bulk of health inequities, the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.

Social Determinants of Health - Life's Core Conditions

SDH are non-medical factors-conditions where people are born, grow, live, work, and age-shaping health. 📌 Mnemonic for domains: Eat Every Healthy Nutritious Snack (Economic, Education, Healthcare, Neighborhood, Social & Community).

DomainComponents & Examples (India)Health Impact Examples
Economic StabilityPoverty, employment, food security (PDS), housing (slums)↑Malnutrition, ↑stress, ↓healthcare access
Education Access & QualityLiteracy, school enrollment (girls), quality of govt. schools↑Health literacy, ↑maternal/child health, ↑job prospects
Healthcare Access & QualityPHC/CHC availability, insurance (Ayushman Bharat), care quality↑Immunization, ↓IMR/MMR, ↑chronic disease control
Neighborhood & Built EnvironmentSanitation (ODF), safe water, air pollution, green spaces↑Infectious diseases, ↑respiratory illness, ↑activity levels
Social & Community ContextSocial support, discrimination (caste/gender), SHGs↑Mental health, ↓stress effects, ↑health-seeking behavior

Social Determinants of Health - India's Health Canvas

  • Key factors shaping health beyond healthcare access.

  • India-specific SDH:

    • Poverty: Affects nutrition, housing, education.
    • Caste & Gender: Discrimination impacts access & outcomes.
    • Urbanization: Overcrowding, sanitation challenges.
    • Sanitation & Hygiene: Open defecation, waterborne diseases.
    • Nutrition: Malnutrition (under & over), micronutrient deficiencies.
    • Regional Disparities: Significant variations in health indicators (e.g., IMR, MMR) across states.
  • Key Government Interventions:

    • Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY): ↑ Healthcare access, financial protection.
    • Swachh Bharat Mission: ↑ Sanitation coverage.
    • PDS (Public Distribution System): Food security.

U5MR across India 2000, 2010, 2017

⭐ NFHS data consistently shows significant rural-urban and interstate variations in health outcomes linked to SDH, such as IMR <30 in Kerala vs >40 in some northern states (illustrative, check latest NFHS).

Social Determinants of Health - Action For Equity

  • Key Actions for Health Equity:
    • Intersectoral Coordination: Health sector collaborates with education, housing, employment for synergistic health improvements.
    • Policy & System Changes: Implement policies and structural reforms reducing health disparities and promoting fairness.
    • Community Empowerment: Involve communities, especially marginalized groups, in planning, implementing, and evaluating initiatives.
    • Role of Health Professionals: Advocate for equity, address SDH in practice, contribute to research.
  • Health in All Policies (HiAP): Collaborative approach integrating health considerations into policymaking across sectors to improve population health and advance equity.

⭐ Intersectoral collaboration is key to effectively addressing the complex nature of SDH, fostering comprehensive solutions.

High-Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • SDH: Non-medical factors (e.g., socio-economic status, education, housing) shaping health outcomes.
  • They are the primary drivers of health inequities and disparities.
  • Key Indian SDH include poverty, caste, gender discrimination, and literacy levels.
  • The Dahlgren & Whitehead "Rainbow Model" is a widely recognized framework.
  • Addressing SDH requires intersectoral coordination and upstream interventions.
  • Examples of Indian programs addressing SDH include ICDS and MGNREGA.

Practice Questions: Social Determinants of Health

Test your understanding with these related questions

All are provisions of WHO mental health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), except:

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Flashcards: Social Determinants of Health

1/10

_____ is the process by which there is the diffusion of cultures between two culturally different groups of people

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

_____ is the process by which there is the diffusion of cultures between two culturally different groups of people

Acculturation

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