WHO: Social Determinants of Health

WHO Social Determinants of Health

• Social exclusion stems from poverty, racism, discrimination, stigmatization, hostility, and unemployment, hindering participation in education, training, services, and civic activities.
• Workplace stress increases disease risk; greater work control is associated with better health.
• Job insecurity raises the risk of mental health issues (anxiety, depression), self-reported illness, and heart disease; poor job quality can be as detrimental as unemployment.
• Strong social support networks (friendships, relationships) improve health across various settings (home, work, community).
• Addiction (alcohol, substances) is a coping mechanism for difficult circumstances, leading to downward social mobility.
• Adequate nutrition is crucial for health and well-being.
• Active transportation methods (cycling, walking, public transit) offer health benefits (exercise, accident reduction, social interaction, reduced air pollution).

Importance of Health Behaviors

• Unhealthy behaviors drive the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (over half and rising). Behavioral diseases, such as addictions and internet gaming disorder, are significant.
• Behaviors are major factors in infectious diseases; for example, HIV transmission is largely due to risky behaviors (unprotected sex, injecting drug use) and emerging infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19) prevention and control rely heavily on behaviors (vaccine hesitancy, mask-wearing, physical distancing).
• New technologies (ChatGPT, chatbots, AI) offer novel approaches to behavioral change.

Human Behavior & Interdisciplinary Approaches

• Human behavior is complex.
• Interdisciplinary approaches (psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, IT) are necessary for understanding and modifying behavior.
• Working with vulnerable populations requires attention to equity.

Behavioral Health

• Behavioral health encompasses the link between behavior and individual well-being.
• It emphasizes the interplay of biomedical, behavioral, psychosocial/cultural factors, and health outcomes.
• Diabetes mellitus, for instance, is affected by behaviors (testing, self-care, diet, treatment adherence, physical activity), cultural/psychological factors (mental health, perceptions), and biomedical factors (medication, comorbidities).
• An interdisciplinary approach is necessary; behavioral health complements various other disciplines.

Social Capital

• Coleman (1988) and Putnam (1993) defined social capital as trust, norms, and networks.
• Lochner et al. (1999) offer a more ecological perspective, viewing it as a social structural factor (not individual) excluding networks and support, instead focusing on psychological sense of community, collective efficacy, neighborhood cohesion, and community competence.
• Harpham et al. (2002) introduced structural (network extent and intensity) and cognitive (support, trust, sharing, reciprocity) social capital.

Structural and Cognitive Social Capital

• Structural social capital focuses on the breadth and strength of social networks, including collective action, cohesion, and community strength.
• Cognitive social capital emphasizes support, trust, sharing, and reciprocity within those networks.

Major References

• A list of references including journals and organizations is provided but not included in this summary.

This quiz explores the social determinants of health as outlined by the WHO. Topics include the impact of social exclusion, workplace stress, job insecurity, and the significance of social support. Understand how these factors collectively influence health outcomes and community well-being.