The social determinants of health refer to the social and economic conditions that determine an individual’s health and medical well-being. Economic and social conditions are variedly distributed amongst people and they affect people’s working and living conditions differently.
The social determinants of health affect an individual working
and living conditions. Social determinants are informed by public
policies that mirror the political ideologies of the people in
authority. Economic conditions determine the social conditions of a
community. People who live in affluent areas are more content with
their lives and they are mentally and physically healthier than
people who are not content with their social status. Poor people
generally are less healthy and have shorter life expectancies as
compared to rich people.
This differences in health are social injustices and they
illuminate powerful health determinants in the modern world. The
differences have allowed an increased understanding of how
remarkably sensitive health issues are in the social environment.
Social determinants contribute to the development of diseases in
that poor people are generally more exposed to pathogens than the
rich. They eat and drink contaminated food and water, the share
amenities and they have no easy access to medical attention.
According to the epidemiologic triad model, the repeated
interaction of a disease-causing agent on their host in a conducive
environment results in the spread of infectious diseases (CDC,
2014). The pathogen leaves its host and enters another potential
host through a relevant portal. The pathogen thrives and multiplies
in its habitat in what is referred to as a chain of infection (WHO,
2014). Understanding the various transmission channels and exit
portals enable a care provider to know the best cause of prevention
and treatment. Control measures are typically employed in the
section of the infection chain that allows easy intervention. For
instance, in the treatment of a bacterial respiratory infection, a
nurse can administer antibiotics to a patient. A nurse can also
wear protective gear such as masks and gloves to protect them from
getting infections by touching infected bodily fluids.
Comment 2
The global health issue which I have chosen and has affected
the international health community is Zika Virus. It is a virus,
which is spread by mosquito popularly known as Aedes species of
mosquito. The said species of mosquito can bite both during the day
and night. An issue of concern about Zika virus is pregnancy. The
virus can pass through placenta thereby leading to birth defects.
Zika virus can also be spread through sexual intercourse or sexual
acts (Salazar, 2016). Unfortunately, Zika virus does not have a
vaccine. Some of the symptoms of Zika virus include headache,
fever, joint pain, rash, muscle pain and red eyes. According to
CDC, Zika virus symptoms can last for days or weeks. Death and
hospitalization after Zika infection are very rare. After one is
infected with Zika virus, immunity is built against infections in
the future ((U.S.), 2018). Mosquitos, which spread Zika virus, can
also spread chikungunya virus and dengue virus.
In the US, Zika infections have been reported in Florida and
Texas states. On a global level, Zika infections have been reported
in each continent except Europe and Antarctica. CDC already issued
travel notices for regions including Asian nations of Singapore and
Maldives, African countries of Guinea-Bissau and Angola, regions in
Central America, Caribbean and Mexican regions such as Costa Rica,
Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Panama. The
CDC also reported other regions affected though it did not issue
travel notices especially in Asia and Africa ((U.S.), 2018).
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