Nursing 4210 - Health: Transitions

Learning Activity #7 (Online)
Social Determinants of Health

Overview:

“The health of individuals and groups is a combined result of their own health practices and the impact of the physical and social environments in which they live, work, pray and play. There is an interaction among people and their surroundings. Settings, consisting of places and things, have a physical and psychological impact on people's health.” (Health Canada, 1996).

The Canadian health care system has now adopted a Social Determinants of Health framework as a primary indicator of the health of individuals, families, groups and communities. Nurses need to become cognizant of these indicators and work with people to promote their optimal achievement. According to Health Canada, there are twelve factors which influence the promotion and maintenance of health. These factors are referred to as key health determinants.

They include:

Income and Social Status
Social Support Networks
Education and Literacy
Employment/Working Conditions
Social Environments
Physical Environments
Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills
Healthy Child Development
Biology and Genetic Endowment
Health Services
Gender
Culture

The primary health determinants affect the secondary determinants and thus affect health status. Knowledge of this interrelationship can he used to shape population health strategies, health promotion initiatives, and primary health care delivery.

KEY HEALTH DETERMINANTS
Primary Health Determinants	Secondary Health Determinants
Income and Social Status	Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills
Employment and Working Conditions	Physical Environment
Education and Literacy	Social Environment
Gender	Social Support Networks
Biology and Genetic Endowment	Health Services
Healthy Child Development	Culture

Research in Canadian health shows that income, social status, employment and working conditions, and education act as primary health determinants that have profound effects on the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.