The Five Domains of Social Determinants of Health
The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people live and develop. Social determinants of health are a wide range of factors that affect people’s quality of life in different communities (Healthy People 2030, 2020). These concepts may include economic stability, education, health care access, social context, and neighborhood (Healthy People 2030, 2020).
Impact of Social Determinants on Disease Development
Social determinants significantly influence the development of diseases. For example, the availability of medical care determines how much the public can use protective equipment that slows the spread of the disease. The population’s education determines how much society will be responsible for personal hygiene. Thus, the better the community’s life, the more resources it will have to fight the disease.
Understanding the Chain of Infection
The chain of infection involves the links that must be passed for an infectious disease to spread. The chain links include the causative agent of the infection, the carrier, and the route by which the infection leaves the body (Clark, 2015). It is also necessary to consider the modes of transmission, that is, how the virus is transmitted (Clark, 2015). The portal of entry suggests how the infection passes from one carrier to another.
Finally, the beginning of a new chain of infection is marked by identifying a new host of the virus, and the circle begins anew. It is assumed that to break the chain of infection, it is necessary to interrupt at least one of the links in this chain. An integrated approach that solves the problem of several links at once will be more effective in the fight against infectious diseases. However, public health in times of crisis may not have the resources to fight it on a large scale, so it is essential to know how to deal with the virus at all stages.
Strategies for Community Health Nurses to Break the Chain
Community nurses must apply special methods to break the disease chain to improve public healthcare and preserve the population’s health. Methods need to be developed to address each link in the distribution chain. Community nurses can raise public awareness of vaccinations to help fight the infectious agent (Clark, 2015).
To solve the carrier problem, it is necessary to present the community with ways to observe the principles of personal hygiene. These basic practices may include washing hands and covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. Nurses can distribute information brochures to teach the public about these simple methods. In addition, the public should know where to get immunizations and help build herd immunity against infections.
Infection pathways in respiratory diseases can be addressed by providing the population with personal protective equipment. In addition, nurses can talk about the importance of staying at home when sick, even if the symptoms seem mild. Nurses can propose an initiative to maintain the rules of conduct in public places introduced during COVID-19. These include social distancing, the provision of antiseptics, and the use of plastic barriers.
The most significant part of the work to break the chain of infection must continue to be active community outreach (Clark, 2015). The more people become aware of personal protection and the importance of a responsible attitude to their and others’ health, the easier it will be for public health to defeat emerging threats.
References
Clark, M. J. (2015). Population and community health nursing, 6th ed. Pearson.
Healthy People 2030 (2020). Social determinants of health. Web.