What Factors Affect Health in a Community?

The elements that influence a person's health are social determinants of health. These variables include race, gender, socioeconomic position, and physical activity. For example, research indicates poor socioeconomic status is connected with greater smoking rates, less physical activity, and shorter lifespans. These characteristics, however, are not necessarily directly related to health outcomes. Therefore, it is critical to include neighborhood quality when studying social factors.

These elements can impact a person's physical and emotional well-being and life quality. Children whose parents do not have a high school education, for example, are more likely to live in unsafe neighborhoods, have worse health outcomes, and suffer higher stress levels. These variables may also influence children and adolescents, so tackling them is critical to enhancing public health and decreasing health inequalities.

According to research, certain socioeconomic characteristics, such as money and education, are more likely than others to impact health outcomes. While some of these elements are interconnected, others are anchored in larger socioeconomic contexts. In America, for example, one out of every ten individuals does not have health insurance. Uninsured persons may lack a main healthcare provider, cannot afford health-related expenses, or live far away from healthcare centers. Furthermore, compared to their white counterparts, Black Americans are more likely to be without health insurance.

Researchers can utilize community-level indicators such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES) or the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to help discover the variables impacting people's health to establish which social determinants of health are the most common. This study is an important tool for improving health care. In addition to population-level indicators, data from surveys that assess people's and communities' health can be gathered.

Communities must analyze their resources as well as their issues. This will enable them to make changes to decrease or eliminate social determinant problems. In addition, community relationships are more likely to succeed if these elements are addressed. And the advantages of community engagement extend beyond health. For example, addressing poverty and income disparity is critical to enhancing a community's general health and well-being. However, it is vital to realize that these social variables are interconnected and often contradictory.

The study also emphasized the importance of poverty in public health. One in every ten people in the United States suffers from poverty and lack of health care. This implies that poor individuals frequently cannot afford health care, nutritious food, or suitable shelter. While those with steady jobs are more likely to be healthy, they may not be able to purchase good meals. Furthermore, persons with impairments may experience limits that limit their ability to work.

ACP encourages further study on the social determinants of health. It advises government officials to address environmental, occupational, and nutritional social determinants of health and socioeconomic and other aspects. The report also recommends additional community-based participatory research. The American College of Physicians promotes public policy efforts that address health's socioeconomic determinants. They also support initiatives that address socioeconomic and health disparities that negatively influence people's lives.

Policymakers are increasingly considering social determinants of health in public policy and medical studies. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation and the Center for Medicaid Delivery System and Payment Reform have begun work to identify and address these socioeconomic factors. Furthermore, managed care organizations and providers are taking steps to address socioeconomic determinants of health. What, then, can policymakers do? First, they can influence the non-health sectors to promote health.

For example, the American College of Physicians suggests that public health organizations finance the socioeconomic determinants of health by strengthening interprofessional communication and collaborative partnerships. Investing in social services and initiatives is a critical step toward reducing health inequalities. Collaboration with other companies is also essential for reducing redundancy and maximizing effect. However, tackling socioeconomic determinants of health is a complex problem that must be approached cautiously to guarantee the greatest possible outcomes for people.

There are several racial differences in socioeconomic determinants of health. These variables contribute to the inequities since Black women are four to five times more likely than white women to die after delivery. Furthermore, the CDC data demonstrates racial discrepancies in COVID-19 mortality. Finally, it is critical to adopt a comprehensive strategy to tackle socioeconomic determinants of health and increase health in low-income areas.