Public Health Case Study Analysis: Social Determinants and Policies

This case study analyzes two scenarios related to public health, focusing on social determinants, health beliefs, and cultural factors impacting health outcomes. The first case involves an Aboriginal woman, Joanna, exploring the influence of education, social support, health policies, and institutional racism on her health choices and access to care. The second case examines the health challenges faced by a migrant family from Sudan in Australia, highlighting the impact of cultural differences, social determinants like employment and education, and institutional racism on their health. The analysis delves into health beliefs, safety measures, and policy implications, offering insights into culturally sensitive healthcare and the complexities of navigating diverse health systems. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding social and cultural contexts to improve public health interventions and address health disparities.

Running head: QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 1
Question and Answer Case Study
Institution’s Name:
Student’s Name:

QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 2
Case Study 1
Question one
There are various social determinants that apply to Joanna. One of the determinant is that of
education. If Joanna would be educated she would find it easier engaging in healthy behaviours
rather than visiting the midwife for assistance. However, her seeking some help from Aboriginal
health center is not a bad idea but if she could be educated, that could not be the next move for
her. Her saying that she will join a local university so that she can become a midwife is a sign of
education. The social support that she gets from Aboriginal midwife will contribute greatly
towards the wellbeing of Joanna.
Question two
One of the policy is that of social strategy for circumstantial to indigenous health. The policy
shows both the domestic and also international evidence which state that people have the right to
access high quality health care which is essential towards enhancing the indigenous health status.
Therefore, the policy plays a great role towards Joanna in that she has a right towards receiving a
high quality medical care so as to enhance the wellbeing of her state. Despite her getting care
from the midwife, she needs to get more care which is more advanced also. This will help greatly
towards building her wellbeing.
Question three
Institutional racism causes great impacts which are negative to the society. Joanna opts to attend
a local university so that she can succeed in becoming a midwife. This is as a result of her
meeting the friendly midwife in the health facility. This is quite clear that that the quality of
education given in the local university is not that good. Her sorting care from the midwife is also

QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 3
clear that institutional racism has negative impacts because the nature of care she is given there is
not of high quality. Therefore, institutional racism has caused negative impacts towards Joanna
leading to her wanting to join a local university (Bell, Adams, 2016).
Question four
Health beliefs are the personal convictions which influence the health behaviors. The boyfriend
of Joanna feels is very young to be a father. On the other hand Joanna feels that she cannot bear
the burden of being raised with her younger children due to her parents. This makes her to move
out of the home and seek for medical care from the nearby Aboriginal center. Through her
personal conviction and friendly nature of the midwife who was giving her care, she develops an
urge of also going to local university so as to become a midwife. Through her personal
convictions, she feels culturally save with the midwife due to the health and caring nature she
was giving her (Kelder, Hoelscher, Perry, 2015).
Question five
Joanna is hesitant towards using mainstream health due to the following. Her being Aboriginal
shows that she is culturally segregated hence cannot manage to seek mainstream health services.
Secondly, she comes from a humble background. She opts to move out of their home because
she cannot bear the burden of being raised with her 7. One of the attitude is that of trying to
make one believe that pregnancy is a disease of nine months. If the impression was created in
the mind of Joanna, she could have lost hope and even aborted the child.
Question six

QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 4
One of the safety measure is that of local cultural conceptuality. This plays a great role towards
addressing the health needs of the people within the society. Considering the background of
Joanna and her culture, this safety measure can help greatly towards acquiring the needed health
care and support for her wellbeing. The other safety measure is that of individual reflection. This
plays a great role towards a mindful self-reflection. Joanna needs a health profession who can
help her in self-reflection. However, this role has been played by the midwife but not fully. She
needs a profession who is experienced to teach her more about self-reflection.(Sammer, Lykens,
Singh, Mains, Lackan, 2010).
Case Study 2
Question one
Health beliefs are the personal convictions which influence the health behaviors of a certain
individual. Due to her strong belief in the cultural diet, the mother does not follow the guidelines
which she is given in the hospital. She feels that her traditional diet is the best. Due to that, her
condition has become worse hence affecting her in a negative way. She is unable to incorporate
the changes which are needed by the health professions. The health care professionals do not
seem to understand also. Therefore, the change of culture from their country to Australia has
affected the mother adversely.
Question two

QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 5
Moving from Sudan to Australia means there is a change of culture. Many things have changed
hence making it hard for both Gift and her mother to adapt to the changes. Due to the civil wars,
they had to move to Australia. However Gift misses his friends greatly. Due to him thinking
much about the friends he left behind, he finds it hard to adapt to the new changes. The
preconceived ideas from the school also make it hard for him to adapt to the new changes. The
mother also believes in her culture. This is why it is getting harder for her to follow the
guidelines that she is given in the hospital (Dudgeon, Wright, Paradies, Garvey, Walker, 2010).
Question three
One of the principle is that of country and the community domain. This helps to reinforce the
safety of culture of a particular person. Gift and his mother recognizes the culture of their
country Sudan. This is what is making it hard for them to adapt to the new culture. However,
they should acknowledge that they are in a different environment which has a different culture
hence there is need for change. They should use the approach of culture responsiveness. They
should also employ the safety of self-reflection whereby they should look behind and know
where they have come from and where they are currently (Woodward, Van Staalduinen, Lemer,
Greaves, Noble, Barraclough, 2010)
Question four
According to World Health Organization (2011) there are various social determinants that are in
relation to the health and culture of an individual. One of the determinant is that of employment
and economy. After the completion of high school, Gift is searching for a job. If he gets
employed, life will be a bit smooth because he will get to mix with other people well. He will
also be able to get the income which will help them in their day to day activities. Another social

QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 6
determinant is that of education. Through education, Gift will be able to get a job. Through the
job, he will be able to get income that will sustain him with the mother hence promoting their
wellbeing.
Question five.
One of the policy is that of social strategy for circumstantial to indigenous health. The policy
shows both the domestic and also international evidence which state that people have the right to
access high quality health care which is essential towards enhancing the indigenous health status.
Through that, Gift takes his mother to the hospital due to her being diagnosed with diabetes.
However, the mother does not follow the guidelines because she believes in her culture.
Therefore, the policy does not play any positive role towards the mother because she feels that
her culture and traditional nature is the best for her.
Question six
Institutional racism has created a negative impact towards Gift. This is because he experiences
biasness from his fellow students due to the difference in culture. Gift did not know English. The
condition made him feel less intelligent and knowledgeable. He felt hopeless and at the same
time isolated because he could not mix freely with the other classmates. This is because the
fellow classmates could speak and write fluent English. Therefore, institution racism made Gift
to work hard so that he could be in the same level with his classmates. Through that, he managed
to finish his high school education.

QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 7
References
Bell, L. A., & Adams, M. (2016). Theoretical foundations for social justice education.
In Teaching for diversity and social justice (pp. 21-44). Routledge.
Dudgeon, P., Wright, M., Paradies, Y., Garvey, D., & Walker, I. (2010). The social, cultural and
historical context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Working together:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and wellbeing principles and
practice, 25-42.
Kelder, S. H., Hoelscher, D., & Perry, C. L. (2015). How individuals, environments, and health
behaviors interact. Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice, 159.
World Health Organization. (2011). Closing the gap: policy into practice on social determinants
of health: discussion paper.
Sammer, C. E., Lykens, K., Singh, K. P., Mains, D. A., & Lackan, N. A. (2010). What is patient
safety culture? A review of the literature. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 42(2), 156-
165.
Walton, M., Woodward, H., Van Staalduinen, S., Lemer, C., Greaves, F., Noble, D., ... &
Barraclough, B. (2010). The WHO patient safety curriculum guide for medical
schools. BMJ Quality & Safety, 19(6), 542-546.

QUESTION AND ANSWER CASE STUDY 8