Determinants of Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is also the ability to cope with the ordinary stresses and strains of life.
This definition, however, excludes a wide range of people who, for various reasons, have health problems that do not respond to medical treatment. It is therefore important to consider a more inclusive definition of health that works for all.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of total physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”(see figure 1). Although this definition is considered to be fairly clear, other definitions are used by different people for different purposes.
There are a number of different aspects to health, including behavioural factors, biomedical factors and the environment. These are all determinants of health and can affect individual and population health outcomes.
Behavioural: a person’s habits and behaviour play a significant role in their overall health status. Behavioral factors can be controlled through lifestyle, diet, exercise and stress management.
Biomedical: a person’s health is developed as a result of their genetic makeup and can be influenced by the environment they live in, as well as a number of factors that are outside their control. These factors include their family history and environment, the quality of air they breathe, and the availability of good healthcare services.
Environmental: a person’s surroundings, including their home and neighbourhood, influence their health. They may be more able to access healthcare services and have greater opportunities to lead healthy lives when the surrounding area is clean, safe, and has good transportation systems.
Community: a person’s social relationships and support networks are important in their health. They can provide emotional and practical support for people in need, as well as help them avoid pitfalls that could adversely affect their health.
Determinants of health: A person’s circumstances can determine their health, with certain social or economic factors, such as poverty, being the most important. These determinants can be changed and improved by government and individuals to reduce or eliminate disadvantages in a person’s health.
Public health is the study of the determinants of the health of an individual or group, and their impact on the health of others in society. It is a broad and complex field that is continually evolving as new evidence is discovered and new approaches are adopted.
It is an essential foundation for any policy on reducing health disparities. It requires a thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to ill health and the ways in which those factors can be altered to improve people’s health.
It is also essential for developing policies to improve the health of specific groups of people, such as children or the elderly. It is important to identify those groups that are most vulnerable and target them with specific interventions, such as improving their living and working conditions or increasing their access to quality healthcare services.
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is also the ability to cope with the ordinary stresses and strains of life. This definition, however, excludes a wide range of people who, for various reasons, have health problems that do not respond to medical treatment. It is therefore important to consider a more inclusive definition of health that works for all. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of total physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”(see figure 1). Although this definition is considered to be fairly clear, other definitions are used by different people for different purposes. There are a number of different aspects to health, including behavioural factors, biomedical factors and the environment. These are all determinants of health and can affect individual and population health outcomes. Behavioural: a person’s habits and behaviour play a significant role in their overall health status. Behavioral factors can be controlled through lifestyle, diet, exercise and stress management. Biomedical: a person’s health is developed as a result of their genetic makeup and can be influenced by the environment they live in, as well as a number of factors that are outside their control. These factors include their family history and environment, the quality of air they breathe, and the availability of good healthcare services. Environmental: a person’s surroundings, including their home and neighbourhood, influence their health. They may be more able to access healthcare services and have greater opportunities to lead healthy lives when the surrounding area is clean, safe, and has good transportation systems. Community: a person’s social relationships and support networks are important in their health. They can provide emotional and practical support for people in need, as well as help them avoid pitfalls that could adversely affect their health. Determinants of health: A person’s circumstances can determine their health, with certain social or economic factors, such as poverty, being the most important. These determinants can be changed and improved by government and individuals to reduce or eliminate disadvantages in a person’s health. Public health is the study of the determinants of the health of an individual or group, and their impact on the health of others in society. It is a broad and complex field that is continually evolving as new evidence is discovered and new approaches are adopted. It is an essential foundation for any policy on reducing health disparities. It requires a thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to ill health and the ways in which those factors can be altered to improve people’s health. It is also essential for developing policies to improve the health of specific groups of people, such as children or the elderly. It is important to identify those groups that are most vulnerable and target them with specific interventions, such as improving their living and working conditions or increasing their access to quality healthcare services.