Social Determinants of Health in a Case Study

Running head: CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Authors note:

1CASE STUDY
Characteristics of the Individuals
The given case study revolves around life of Carla, who is 54 years old who lives in a
small coastal mining town. Her parents had died when she was very young and was brought
up by her older aunt who could not read or write, therefore, she struggled through the
educational years. Educational success or school success is an important parameter of early
childhood development (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019). She married early
and got divorced when she had her second child. Hence, it could be understood that she was
hindered from developing any other educational or personal development skill. According
to Cohen and Syme (2018), educational attainment is one of the factors of social determinant
of health and well-being. Carla supported her husband and children after her husband had
head injury while working which went unreported. The unreported head injury resulted in
depression and forgetfuness for Carla’s husband. Therefore, her husband was dependent on
her financially and mentally. After her children grew up it was difficult for her to manage
the financial condition. Her daughter and son had did not well at school, however, her
daughter got pregnant with her boyfriend. Carla’s daughter and her boyfriend share mixed
emotions because they are unsure about the affordability of renting when the baby arrives.
Therefore, her daughter is not educationally sound and financially dependent as well.
However, Carla’s daughter has developed gestational diabetes due to which she feels tired
and weak, therefore, she wants her mother to be there. However, travelling for Carla is
becoming prohibitive due to the expenditure. Due to which Carla is saving money by eating
toast as an evening meal so that she can meet her daughter on a regular basis. In the case
study it could be inferred that Carla was supportive but poverty stricken and had been trying
hard to cope with the current situation.
Social determinants of health

2CASE STUDY
From the case study it is evident that Carla was deprived of educational support in
her schooling years. Educational support as well parental care and support is one of the
important part of child’s early development. The social determinants of health in this case
study are:
1. Early Childhood Development
2. Gender
3. Housing and Rent
4. Income
5. Disability
Early childhood development, here is an important factor in Carla’s case because she
had to handle huge responsibility when she was young. Being a mother, she had to take care
not only of her husband but also her children. Education plays an important part of early
childhood development which can affect the child’s future and career. According to Allen
et al. (2014), a person ability is developed by a person’s social, physical environment and
economic stages of life. Moreover, raising them along with working is a difficult task for a
woman. Gender identity is often overlooked when considering the social determinant of
health therefore, being a woman and supporting the entire family financially is extremely
challenging given the background she comes from. There are health inequities between men
and women that need to be addressed (Hawkes and Buse 2013). Housing and Renting is a
challenging factor and due to which the environment as well asocial determinant of health
gets affected. Financial hardship along with the housing unaffordability can lead to poor
health (Mason et al. 2013). According to Baker et al. (2014) further confirms that there is
bidirectional relationship between health and affordable housing outcomes, in fact, the
housing affordability can predict health outcomes as well. According to Paul and Gilbert
(2013) in their study using HILDA (Household, Income and Labour Dynamics) survey as one