Social determinants of health with the most impact on the health of Americans.
In your discussion,
Identify two social determinants of health that you think have the most impact on the health of Americans.
Use scholarly and government research, including national-level data, to justify your choice. Data from .gov websites (e.g. www.cdc.gov (Links to an external site.), www.nih.gov (Links to an external site.), etc.) are acceptable.
In addition, choose one social science theory from those identified in the Week 2 Instructor Guidance.
Describe the key constructs of the theory and use one or two specific examples to discuss how the theory is used in public health interventions to address the social determinant of health that you identified at both state and national levels.
Identify one real-world public health intervention that addresses the social determinant of health you identified in your community.
Use scholarly and government research to justify your recommendations.
Sample Solution
Two social determinants of health which have the most impact on the health of Americans are income and education. Income levels directly affect an individual’s ability to obtain adequate healthcare services and treatments due to its direct correlation with insurance coverage; as those with higher incomes typically receive better benefits than their lower-income counterparts (Mays et al 2020). Additionally those living in poverty often lack access to essential resources such as proper nutrition or even safe housing which can lead to greater susceptibility towards communicable diseases or other illnesses (CDC 2019).
Education also plays a major role in maintaining overall wellbeing since individuals who are more informed about medical topics such as preventative care, lifestyle choices, etc. are likely to make healthier decisions when compared with those lacking this knowledge. High school graduates for example tend to live longer while having fewer chronic conditions than non-graduates due possibly towards increased understanding regarding risk factors associated with various ailments (CDC 2019).
In addition, studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between educational attainment and life expectancy; suggesting that a high school diploma provides a number of long-term benefits over time including improved job prospects thus leading towards higher wages which could further contribute towards better access to quality healthcare (Hess et al 2018).
In conclusion, both income level and education serve important roles in determining the overall health of individuals within society since they provide essential frameworks from which many crucial decisions can be made. As such it is essential for governments at all levels work together in order create initiatives designed to help reduce disparities between socioeconomic groups while encouraging everyone attain these basic standards regardless background so that everyone has same opportunities for achieving optimal wellness throughout their lives.(Mays et al 2020).
