Chapter 4 + The health gap- Doctors and the social determinants of health

The health gap- Doctors and the social determinants of health.

This article talks about health inequalities and how to face them head on. It addresses the six areas for policy interventions. It also talks about how healthcare professionals have a role in advancing health equality by engaging in comminitees, Its all about how docotrs gave an infleunce on thier patients given they recognize the social factors of them and how their diseases can be created,

Socioeconomic factors

In the United States, socioeconomic status plays a role in life expectancy due to being relates to family income and educational level.

Individual Health Behavior

This is the actions or choices made by an individual that can affect their health and well-being (positively or negatively)


Some examples of positively would be

  • Exercise
  • Healthy eating habits
  • Good sleep/rest
  • Proper hygiene

Some examples of negatively would be

  • Smoking/ drinking alcohol
  • Poor diet
  • Lack of exercise
  • Neglecting mental health

These can all be influences by other factors such as socioeconomic status, education, cultural norms, access to healthcare, etc.

Social Systems

Public health relates to social and behavioral sciences

Things such as (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Political science, Economics, Etc) Can help in the understanding of social and behavioral health and how they play a part into public health to make the society better as a whole.

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The relationship between income, socioeconomic status and health are defined into

  • Life expectancy and GPD
  • Income disparities and health outcomes
  • Socioeconomic gradient of health

Factors that affect socioeconomic health disparities are

  • Education and health
  • Gini index
  • Impact of place and demographics

Social systems play an important role in. Individual health by

  • Shaping norms
  • Enforcing patters of social control
  • Providing opportunities to engage in healthy behaviors
  • Encouraging selection of healthy behaviors and a coping mechanism