Theories To Explain Health Social Determinants

Running Head: THEORIES TO EXPLAIN HEALTH SOCIAL DETERMINANTS 1
Theories To Explain Health Social Determinants
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THEORIES TO EXPLAIN HEALTH SOCIAL DETERMINANTS 2
Introduction
The social health determinants are both societal and financial conditions as well as their
dispersal among the population. The social health determinants influences group as well as
individual differences concerning various health issues (Viner et al. 2012). These social
determinants are health-favoring features which are usually institute in the living and working
environments of an individual which include power, influence, revenue and capital instead of
personal risk factors such as genetics and behavioral risk factors. These factors influence the risk
for an illness or the susceptibility to diseases or injury (Solar & Irwin, 2010). The distribution of
social determinants is dictated by the communal guidelines which show the impact of the
predominant partisan principles of those leading a jurisdiction. The World Health Organization
(WHO) statuses that the unsatisfactory distribution of the health-damaging encounters is not a
normal phenomenon but rather is due to the noxious amalgamation of ineffective and
inappropriate societal guidelines, bad politics and unjust financial provisions (World Health
Organization, 2010). The unfair economic arrangements involve the concept that the rich and the
well continue to become better-off while the poor who are to be expected to be sick turn out to
be even poorer Mikkonen & Raphael, 2010). There are various theories that describe the health
social determinants which include; The Functionalist Theory, The Conflict Perspective,
Interactionist Perspective and the Labeling Theory on health illness (Braveman, Egerter &
Williams, 2011). In this piece, I will use the Conflict Perspective and the Functionalist Theory to
explain the health social determinants and offer an argument on how these concepts differ from
the medical model.
Explanation And Role Of The Perspectives
The Functionalist Theory

THEORIES TO EXPLAIN HEALTH SOCIAL DETERMINANTS 3
According to the Functionalist Viewpoint, the the social order is a scheme of many
interrelated parts which normally function collectively in coordination so as to uphold a state of
equilibrium for everyone (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014). The Functionalist theory states that
disease is a form of unconventionality that disturbs the communal function of the society and it
requires the participation of all the community foundations. Functionalism sees the society as a
whole regarding the function of its constituent elements which includes norms, traditions,
customs and institutions which is much like the interaction of the various organs within the
human body (Smith, 2010). This framework addresses the social order as a complex institution
whose different parts work together so as to promote stability and solidarity. This perspective
states that a sick person is not a prolific society affiliate hence deviance wants to be regulated
which is the obligation of the medical profession (Perrin, 2013).
The Conflict Perspective
The Conflict Perspective theory states that the political and economic structures of a
society form social inequalities, conflicts, and divisions. The Conflict theory in social science
that puts weight on the political, social and material inequality of a given social group which
criticizes the socio-political system that affects the health sector (Bury, 2013). The theory is
associated with Karl Max who believed that capitalism produces internal tensions that lead to its
own destruction. It advocates for the assessment of the inequality in health and the healthcare
delivery systems (Marmot & Allen, 2014).
Biomedical Model And The Social Health Determinants
The biomedical model is one of the most important perspective in the health sector. This
perspective views health as a biological process within individuals. This perspective is valuable