Understanding Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health are any environmental factors that can have an impact on an individual’s health and well-being. They include the social, political, economic, and physical characteristics of the environment in which a person lives. According to recent research, income level, education level, housing conditions, public policies, access to health services, and even the behavior of society as a whole (Singu et al., 2020). All the factors listed above can influence people’s health and well-being.
Impact of Social Determinants on Disease Development
The social determinants of health are a chain of prerequisites and consequences that help develop or prevent disease. For example, inequalities in access to health care can lead to low levels of knowledge and awareness about health and disease, as well as high rates of crime and bad habits that can be one of the reasons for a disease.
The Communicable Disease Chain Model
To represent this idea, an infectious disease chain model was developed. It explains how the social determinants of health can contribute to developing an infectious disease (Burström & Tao, 2020). This model shows that an infectious disease can be passed from one person to another through several stages. The disease can be prevented or stopped at each stage, but only under certain social conditions. For example, proper nutrition, affordable medical services, access to education, etc. All these factors can influence the development and course of the disease.
Nursing Interventions to Break the Communicable Disease Chain
To break the chain of infectious diseases, a nurse can take a number of easy steps. They can offer free healthcare, perform anti-conflict education, and raise patients’ awareness of how to use medical services properly. They may also conduct research and discussions with other health professionals to identify the social determinants of health and take action to address them. Thus, the nurse can help prevent infection and the development of infectious diseases by using the social determinants of health.
References
Burström, B., & Tao, W. (2020). Social determinants of health and inequalities in COVID-19. European journal of public health, 30(4), 617-618. Web.
Singu, S., Acharya, A., Challagundla, K., & Byrareddy, S. N. (2020). Impact of social determinants of health on the emerging COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Frontiers in public health, 8, 406. Web.