Social Determinants of Health Assignment pdf

Running head: SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH 1
Social Determinants of Health
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SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH 2
Social Determinants of Health
Socio-determinants of health are the living conditions that impact or indicate the health or
the health outcome of a population. They include both the social and economic factors and their
distribution among a community that results in the differences in the health status. They also
include the neighboring and working conditions, income level, and race and education
attainments. They are the factors that impact on the access, demand and utilization of health care.
This essay seeks to explain the effect of the low socio-economic status of the families living in
Sydney, Australia (Vilela Brito & Vilela, 2018). It also describes how low income influences the
access to quality healthcare, good nutrition and good housing. Highlighted also are the
recommendations that may help in solving the health disparities in health and health care.
There is evidence that low socioeconomic status and its correlates are often related to the
increase in the occurrence of diseases and poor health. People from poor backgrounds are more
susceptible to many chronic diseases; they also have a lower life expectancy compared to
individuals with high socio-economic status. They also have reduced access to healthcare and
nutritious foods. This is because poor individuals do not have resources to spend on eating
healthy foods and seeing doctors (Frimpong, 2014).
Poverty in Australia has been growing in recent years with approximately 13.3% of the
people living under the internationally set standards. An estimated 731,000 children live in
poverty with 17.5% below the age of 15. There are high levels of poverty in Sydney, the capital
of Northern South Wales Australia. Research indicates that there is a wide gap between the rich

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH 3
and the poor in the area. Around 18,000 families are living under the poverty line in the place.
This has adversely affected the health and access to health care by the families. The main cause
of poverty in the area is the rise in the cost of living. Lack of employment and education has also
led to the increase in the poverty levels (Key domestic economic forecasts for Australia, 2016).
Low socioeconomic status and access to Health Care
Low socio-economic status has negatively influenced the access to healthcare among the
people living in Sydney. Most families live far from the health care facilities making it hard for
them to acquire the services. They are always faced with the problem of paying for transport to
reach the facilities. Due to lack of enough income, they do not visit the hospitals which result in
poor health, worsening of health problems, deaths and disabilities. Expectant women also find it
hard to reach the hospitals making them deliver at home. This may lead to the development of
birth complications and even the death of the infant. The mothers who are lucky enough to safely
deliver their children often miss out on essential vaccinations, predisposing the infant to
communicable diseases (Frimpong, 2014).
Some of the facilities in the area have a small number of healthcare professionals. As a
result, they do wait for long to get medical attention. This discourages the patients from visiting
the hospitals and hence lacking treatment. They also miss out on the type of services they need
most because most facilities are not adequately equipped with medical equipment (Middleton et
al., 2018). Research indicates that there is a high prevalence rate of diseases such as diabetes and
cancer in the area. Patients suffering from the conditions need constant access to health care for
survival. Lack of access to the healthcare they need leads to the increase in mortality rates. It also

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has an impacts on the emotional and psychological well-being of both the patients and family
members due to the pain they undergo through as a result of lack of treatment. The costs and
prices of health care services are high in the area. The families face barriers such as lack of
medical insurances and lack of enough funds which leads to delay or lack of medical treatments
(Health insurance for the poor, 2012). They also lack funds to purchase quality drugs and end up
getting low quality drugs that worsens their health. Some also resort to seeing traditional doctors
with the hope that they will get better.
Low socio-economic status and Nutrition
Socio-economic status greatly influences nutrition. The cost of poor nutrition is high and
continues to rise over the years. Due to lack of enough income, the families living in Sydney are
unable to afford nutritious foods. Inadequate consumption of major macronutrients and high
intake of calories do predispose them to conditions such as undernutrition and obesity. It may
also contribute to the development of chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure
and cardiovascular disease which have high economic costs. (Factors Contributing to Health and
Disease, 2016), suggests that better nutrition can improve intellectual capacity and hence
increasing their labour productivity. Improved nutrition is also vital to the high-income creation
and rapid development.
Studies indicate that poor people do make cheaper food choices which are less healthy
and less energy dense. On the other hand, people with high socioeconomic status purchase foods
such as fish, fresh vegetables and whole grains which reduce their risk of contracting heart
diseases and weight gain. Poverty has also resulted to poor nutrition in pregnant women. Proper