Culture, a Social Determinant of Health and Risk: Considerations for Health and Risk Messaging

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Iwelunmor ◽  
Collins Airhihenbuwa
Keyword(s):  
Health Communication ◽  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Cultural Frameworks ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Determinant Of Health ◽  
Improve Health

We provide an overview on the role of culture in addressing the social determinants of health and risk. The fact that everyone is influenced by a set of locally defined forms of behavior means that while not overtly expressed, culture’s effects can be ubiquitous, influencing everything including the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping health and risk messaging. While the dynamic nature of culture is underestimated and often not reflected in most research, efforts to close the gap on social determinants of health and risk will require greater clarity on what culture is and how it impacts culture-sensitive health communication. Thus, the paper begins by reviewing why culture is so vital and relevant to any attempts to improve health and reduce health inequalities. We discuss what is meant by the term “culture” through a narrative synthesis of historical and recent progress in definitions of culture. We conclude by describing three distinct cultural frameworks for health that illustrate how culture can be effectively used as a vehicle through which to address culturally sensitive health communication in local and global contexts. Overall, we believe that culture is indispensable and important for addressing inequalities and inequities in health as well as for facilitating culture-sensitive health communication strategies that will ultimately close the gap on the social determinants of health and risk.

scholarly journals The health gap: Doctors and the social determinants of health

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 686-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Marmot
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Minimum Income ◽  
Life Long Learning ◽  
The Social ◽  
Life Education ◽  
Improve Health

The social gradient in health has the clear implication that action to improve health and reduce inequalities has to take place at social level, not simply depending on individual changes. Individuals’ ability to change is constrained by social circumstances. The evidence that the magnitude of the gradient varies between countries, and can change within a country over time, suggests that conscious strategies to change it can be successful. In my review of evidence in Britain, the Marmot Review, we made recommendations in six domains: give every child the best start in life; education and life-long learning; employment and working conditions; ensure that everyone has at least the minimum income necessary to lead a health life; healthy and sustainable places; taking a social determinants approach to prevention. A big question is the role of health professionals in action on social determinants of health. We have identified five actions in implementing recommendations: education and training; seeing the patient in broader perspective; the health service as employer; working in partnership; advocacy. The evidence is encouraging that health professionals can make a big difference in advancing the cause of health equity.

Commissioning and social determinants: evidence and opportunities

2020 ◽  
pp. 269-282
Author(s):  
Chris O’Leary ◽  
Chris Fox
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Purchasing Power ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Conceptual Confusion

This chapter argues that local authorities can and should use their purchasing power strategically to address the social determinants of health that affect their local area. It examines commissioning and procurement as local authority functions, defining these concepts and exploring the conceptual confusion between the two. The chapter then looks at the evidence of current practice of local authorities (with a particular focus on local authorities in the UK) in strategic use of their purchasing power. Core to the argument is the role of local voluntary organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), so there is a particular focus on the commissioning experience of these types of organisations. Finally, the chapter makes the case for the role that voluntary sector organisations can play in addressing social determinants of health, before drawing some broad conclusions about the way forward.

scholarly journals Indira's story

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e87-89
Author(s):  
Russell Eric Dawe
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Personal Narrative ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Marginalized Populations ◽  
The Social

Indira is an independent woman who does not live a traditional Nepali life. She rescues abandoned and abused young women from sexual exploitation and provides them with love, support, and education. Her story highlights the key role of the social determinants of health in caring for marginalized populations. Challenges and benefits of attempting to learn from another’s personal narrative are also considered.

scholarly journals The missing voices of Indigenous Australians in the social, cultural and historical experiences of tuberculosis: a systematic and integrative review

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. e001794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Devlin ◽  
David MacLaren ◽  
Peter D Massey ◽  
Richard Widders ◽  
Jenni A Judd
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Indigenous Health ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
The Social ◽  
Biomedical Diagnosis

IntroductionDisparities in tuberculosis (TB) rates exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in many countries, including Australia. The social determinants of health are central to health inequities including disparities in TB rates. There are limitations in the dominant biomedical and epidemiological approaches to representing, understanding and addressing the unequal burden of TB for Indigenous peoples represented in the literature. This paper applies a social determinants of health approach and examines the structural, programmatic and historical causes of inequities for TB in Indigenous Australia.MethodsAboriginal Australians’ families in northern New South Wales who are affected by TB initiated this investigation. A systematic search of published literature was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus and Informit ATSIhealth databases, the Australian Indigenous Health, InfoNet and Google. Ninety-five records published between 1885 and 2019 were categorised and graphed over time, inductively coded and thematically analysed.ResultsIndigenous Australians’ voices are scarce in the TB literature and absent in the development of TB policies and programmes. Epidemiological reports are descriptive and technical and avoid analysis of social processes involved in the perpetuation of TB. For Indigenous Australians, TB is more than a biomedical diagnosis and treatment; it is a consequence of European invasion and a contributor to dispossession and the ongoing fight for justice. The introduction and spread of TB has resulted in the stealing of lives, family, community and cultures for Indigenous Australians. Racist policies and practices predominate in the experiences of individuals and families as consequences of, and resulting in, ongoing structural and systematic exclusion.ConclusionDevelopment of TB policies and programmes requires reconfiguration. Space must be given for Indigenous Australians to lead, be partners and to have ownership of decisions about how to eliminate TB. Shared knowledge between Indigenous Australians, policy makers and service managers of the social practices and structures that generate TB disparity for Indigenous Australians is essential.A social determinant of health approach will shift the focus to the social structures that cause TB. Collaboration with Indigenous partners in research is critical, and use of methods that amplify Indigenous peoples' voices and reconfigure power relations in favour of Indigenous Australians in the process is required.

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