CNA151: Health and Healthcare in Australia - Social Determinants Essay

This essay examines a healthcare case study, focusing on a 54-year-old woman named Carla and her family, to analyze the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and identify key social determinants of health. The essay highlights the impact of factors such as low education, unemployment, and socio-economic status on the individuals, including Carla, her ex-husband John, and their children Annie and Robbie. It emphasizes the significance of socio-economic status as a primary social determinant, impacting access to healthcare and overall well-being. The essay proposes strategies to address these issues at a population level, such as policy initiatives addressing education, income, and occupation. It also suggests increasing communication and promoting education to improve health outcomes. Additionally, it explores how healthcare professionals can address social determinants through awareness, assistance, advocacy, and alignment, including screening for social challenges and fostering collaboration. The essay concludes by underscoring the importance of considering socio-demographic characteristics and social determinants in healthcare to improve individual and community health outcomes. The essay also highlights the role of education and the need for government and voluntary agencies to identify the impacts of socio-economic status and ensure welfare for individuals in need.

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University Name
Name of course
Author Note

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Introduction
This essay will classify the condition of Carla and her life with her children in the light of
the examination of socio-demographic characteristics as well as the identification of key social
determinants of health which are evident in the case study towards the effect over the individuals
like Carla, his ex-husband John, her children Annie and Robbie. This essay will furthermore
propose recommended strategies for addressing the major social determinants identified which
have an impact on the population level (Thiele et al. 2016). Exploring the strategies on how
healthcare professionals can address the social determinants of health will also be discussed in
this essay. The socio-demographic characteristics of the individuals presented in the case study
include the lack of their education level, employment status and income and also migration
background. In accordance with the case study, the major social determinants of health included
and highlighted in this case study is the socio-economic status of Carla and her family.
Discussion
Socio-demographic characteristics include sex, level of education, marital status,
employment status and income for the characters of the case study (Häyrinen et al. 2015). For
Carla, the socio-demographic characteristics include poor levels of education due to the lack of
literacy at her house, early marriage resulting in failed marital status with John and
unemployment. The socio-demographic characteristics for John include unemployment status
and low income followed by household challenges. Throughout the case study, the social-
democratic characteristics of degrading education level followed by unemployment and income
status have been portrayed. Annie, the daughter of Carla have also been portrayed suffering from
low-income status and household challenges due to low education level and migration
background.

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Social determinants of health can be classified as conditions where people are grown,
born, reside as well as age which shapes their health. According to the data from the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare, around 7 million people, which accounts for 29% in Australia
resides in rural and remote locations (Rural and remote populations, 2018). It is to note that
addressing the social determinants of health is essential for the improvement of health as well as
the reduction of long-standing disparities within the system of healthcare (Tilaki and Auladi
2015). In the study, the key social determinants of health that have been identified and is evident
towards the impact of individuals in the case study, are the social-economic status which is
impacting the health and the access to proper healthcare facilities.
Throughout her life, Carla though had no trouble towards finding work and support her
children and her ex-husband due to his illness, though she has struggled to make her ends meet
while her children were growing up since the money she was earning kept on getting lesser for
running the needs of her family (Jalilian, et al. 2015).
According to the research studies, social-economic status falling under the social
determinants of health underlies three of the major determinants of health which are
environmental exposure, healthcare and health behavior (Marmot 2018). In this case study the
socio-economic status which is assessed by the income, occupation and the lower education level
of Carla, is linked to a higher possibility of disparities in adulthood as well as other health
challenges.
The best possible ways for addressing the issue of social-economic status falling under
the social determinants of health for initiative and impact at the population level includes the
requirement of policy initiatives that address the components related to a social-economic
status like education, income as well as occupation together with the pathways by which

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these factors tends to impact the health of an individual. In light of the health promotion
theory, the approach of societal changes in linked to the identified social determinant of socio-
economic status. Since socioeconomic status is a composite measure of the economic and social
logical standing of an individual, this complex assessment requires the development of an
effective process as well as fruitful policies with social economic and cultural factors in mind
(Adler et al. 2016). Proper implementation of the policies and the process for the unique patient
base is essential. For the impact over a broader population range, one of the possible ways to
address social determinants of health is to increase the frequency and accessibility of
communication. This is because it is essential to understand that patients come from different
backgrounds and often have expressed requirements. Effective communication will enable the
passion towards reaching to help regarding the social determinants of health.
The development of automated and ongoing record programs is also essential for patients
with geographical and socio-economic factors (Paone 2019). It is important to reach out to the
people who have special cultural needs and are less likely to visit for regular care and screening
while they are ill, due to the lack of money.
Educational practitioners and public organizations should be trained and educated enough
over the influence of social stratification over several facets of life. It is important for the
government as well as the voluntary agencies to make earnest efforts for identifying the possible
impacts of socioeconomic status on the health and the well-being of an individual. The
government should acknowledge the fact of the effects of stratification as well as the factor of
unemployment which influences the socio-economic status of an individual, widening the gap of
inequality towards ensuring minimum and zero welfare of the society and individuals in need
(LaForge et al. 2018).

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Another of the best-proposed ways for addressing the highlighted issue over the
population level is the role of education being the fundamental right of each and every
individual, should be provided free of cost at the primary level for all individuals. This will
facilitate people to gain knowledge and a minimum level of literacy for getting proper
employment for meeting their family needs.
Healthcare professionals can initiate in addressing social determinants of health by five
approaches. These are adjustment, awareness, assistance, advocacy, and alignment. By
addressing the social determinants of health through the development of direct investment and
initiatives as well as working with a community pattern, the healthcare professionals of the
public organization can initiate in helping people in several profound ways beyond the traditional
methods of medical services (Wyckoff 2017). One of the first steps towards addressing the
hidden social issues of the socio-economic status under the social determinants of health, is
asking individuals regarding their potential social challenges at a sensitive as well as a culturally
acceptable way.
Lack of employment, discrimination and food insecurity, is the growing number of
clinical tools that help the healthcare practitioners to initiate in communicating regarding the
challenges faced by individuals. Proper collaboration among the healthcare professionals and
patient, the practice level intervention by the healthcare professionals as well as the broader
systems changes is essential towards the promotion of equity-oriented primary services of
healthcare (Donkin et al. 2018). The major health care organization level dimensions include
trauma and violence informed care, inequity and responsive care, culturally competent care, and
contextually tailored care.
Conclusion

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Socio-demographic characteristics form the major factors within the life of an individual.
This essay highlights and identifies the key social determinant of health, the socioeconomic
status which impacts the individual in the case study of Carla. The essay explains some of the
proposed solutions for addressing socioeconomic status at a population level together with
exploring the initiatives that can be taken by the health professionals to address this social
determinants of health.

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Reference
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