Studying the social determinants of COVID-19 in a data vacuum

The Canadian government has no plans to release data on the race or socioeconomic status of COVID-19 patients. Therefore, whether COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting certain sociodemographic groups in Canada is unknown. We fill this data void by merging publicly available COVID-19 data with tabular census data to identify risk factors rendering certain geographic areas more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections and deaths. We combine insights obtained from this analysis with information on the socio-demographic profiles of smaller geographic units to predict and display the incidence of COVID-19 infections and deaths in these locales. Like in the U.S., COVID-19 has disproportionately affected black and immigrant communities in Canada. COVID-19 death tolls are also higher in Canadian communities with higher shares of older adults.

Download Full-text

Bringing back the social: the way forward for children’s social work?

Journal of Children s Services ◽

10.1108/jcs-04-2017-0011 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 12 (2-3) ◽

pp. 190-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brid Featherstone ◽

Anna Gupta ◽

Kate Morris

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Child Protection ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Social Suffering ◽

Content Type ◽

Poverty And Inequality ◽

The Social ◽

Original Contribution ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to argue for the need to move away from a sole focus on assessing and dealing with individualised risk factors in order to more fully engage with and understand the social determinants of many of the harms that are manifest in families. Design/methodology/approach It draws from a number of research studies being conducted by the authors and a literature on psycho-social approaches to social suffering. Findings It highlights the evidence on the contribution of poverty and inequality to many of the problems encountered within families. It explores how hurt, shame and loss are experienced by those who are marginalised and struggling to live well and care safely for themselves and others. Practical implications It highlights the practice implications of adopting an approach that engages with both the social and the psychological and understands their inter-relationship. It offers some thoughts on how the social in psycho-social might receive the attention it deserves, a situation which does not pertain currently. Originality/value It offers an original contribution to thinking in the area of child protection where the focus is primarily on individualised risk factors. It highlights the importance of understanding the social determinants of many of the harms experienced in families and offers some pointers towards thinking and practising differently.

Download Full-text

Prevalence, risk factors, and burden of disease for falls and balance or walking problems among older adults in the U.S.

Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.05.025 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 126 ◽

pp. 105737 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Haomiao Jia ◽

Erica I. Lubetkin ◽

Kimberly DeMichele ◽

Debra S. Stark ◽

Matthew M. Zack ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Burden Of Disease ◽

The U.S

Download Full-text

THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF ACTIVITY PATTERN AMONG OLDER ADULTS: A LATENT PROFILE ANALYSIS ON TIME USE DATA

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igy023.996 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (suppl_1) ◽

pp. 269-269

Author(s):

W Huang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Time Use ◽

Activity Pattern ◽

Latent Profile Analysis ◽

Profile Analysis ◽

The Social ◽

Latent Profile

Download Full-text

Prospective cohort study on the social determinants of health: Tehran University of Medical Sciences employees` cohort (TEC) study protocol

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-09798-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Saharnaz Nedjat ◽

Ramin Mehrdad ◽

Masud Yunesian ◽

Hamidreza Pouragha ◽

Vali Biagi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Medical Sciences ◽

The Social ◽

History Of

Abstract Background In this study, the association between the social determinants of health (SDH) as well as other health risk factors and outcomes will be evaluated at different socioeconomic layers. Methods/design This is a prospective cohort study that was launched in January 2018 on Tehran University of Medical Sciences’ employees. The initial enrolment phase will continue up to March 2021, or until a sample size of 5500 is reached. In addition to annual phone-calls, the participants will be followed thrice at 5-year intervals. Data are collected through blood and urine samples, complete physical examination, anthropometric evaluation, and the completion of questionnaires related to SDH, such as socioeconomic status and social capital, history of diseases, lifestyle (including, nutrition, physical activity, cigarette and hookah smoking), occupational exposures (including psychosocial factors at work and work-family conflicts), and different aspects of physical, mental and occupational health as health outcomes. The association between independent variables and health (objective or subjective) are examined using multiple models and by controlling the confounding effects. Moreover, the trend in lifestyle changes and its impact on health are evaluated. Discussion Our study will explore the key social determinants as well as other factors including socioeconomic status and social capital, history of diseases, lifestyle and occupational exposures that affect health. This will provide social and occupational health decision-makers and stakeholders with new and valuable evidence in an era in which we are witnessing huge changes in lifestyle.

Download Full-text

Suicide in an ageing UK population: problems and prevention

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults ◽

10.1108/qaoa-05-2015-0022 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 218-228

Author(s):

Gary Hodge

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Baby Boom ◽

Later Life ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Content Type ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Social ◽

Easy Answer

Purpose Suicide can be an emotive, and at times, controversial subject. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the social, health, personal, and cultural issues that can arise in later life and the potential reasons for suicide. It will analyse already recognised risk factors of suicide in older adults and focus on improving knowledge about the social meaning and causation of suicide for older people. It will also consider suicide prevention policies, their practice implications, and whether they are successful in protecting this potentially vulnerable cohort. Design/methodology/approach A synopsis of available literature in the form of a general review paper of suicide of older adults. Findings There is evidence that the ageing process often leads to a set of co-morbidities and a complex and diverse set of individual challenges. This in turn equates to an increased risk of suicide. There is no easy answer to why there is evidence of a growing number of older adults deciding that suicide is there only option, and even fewer suggestions on how to manage this risk. Social implications The entry of the “baby boom” generation into retirement will lead to the potential of an increase in both suicide risk factors and older adults completing suicide. This is on the background of a demographic surge which is likely to place additional pressures on already under-resourced, and undervalued, statutory and non-statutory services. Originality/value A literature search found very little information regarding older adults and suicide risk, assessment, treatment or prevention.

Download Full-text

Understanding the Social Determinants of Older Adults' Sleep: Integrating Actigraphy Into Survey Data Collection and Analysis

10.4135/9781526427502 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Jen-Hao Chen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Data Collection ◽

Survey Data ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Data Collection And Analysis ◽

The Social

Download Full-text

Influence of social determinants on health and well-being of children and adolescents

International Professional Journal Medicine ◽

10.31082/1728-452x-2020-213-214-3-4-82-87 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3-4 (213-214) ◽

pp. 82-87

Author(s):

Dariya Doskabulova ◽

◽

Arstan Mamyrbaev ◽

Artashes Tadevosyan ◽

Aiman Kaldybaeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Well Being ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Social Determinant ◽

Aim Analysis ◽

The Social ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

The formation of the health of adolescent children is carried out under the influence of many risk factors, including non-medical determinants: lifestyle, socio-economic, household factors and living conditions. Conducting epidemiological studies to identify the leading risk factors for the lifestyle and quality of life of adolescents is currently consistent with the basic directions of development of preventive medicine. Aim. Analysis of literature data, leading factors, the impact of social determinants on the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Material and methods. The choice of publications was made according to keywords that reflected between the indicators of the health of children and adolescents and the factors that influence them. Assessment of the influence of social determinants on the health of children and adolescents made it possible to prepare comprehensive measures to improve the health and health of children and adolescents. Conclusions. In the literature review, the social conditions studied have a decisive influence on the formation of the lifestyle, health and well-being of children and adolescents. Keywords: сhildren, adolescents, social determinant.

Download Full-text