Health Sciences 1002A/B Lecture 1: (1) Key Issues and Themes

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 1002A/B
• Professor: Jeannie Samuel

Document Summary

*** living conditions are the primary determinants of health: activities focused on targeting the victims of adverse conditions for behavioural change > adverse conditions people are experiencing. Focus on the individual is more important than the environment! Despite knowledge of their importance since the 1800s, social determinants have been obscured by the emphasis on biomedical factors and individual behaviour: canadian public health policy tends to favour individual, behaviour based approaches. Determinant the "prerequisites for health" are peace, shelter, education, food, income, a stable ecosystem, sustainable resources, social justice and equity concerned with structural aspects of society and the organization and distribution of economic and social resources. ***disability, race and immigrant status and social locations determine access to economic and social resources necessary for health. Determinant poor housing, clothing, diet and lack of sanitation infections and diseases associated with early death among working class people: material living conditions, day to day stress, overall health-threatening behaviours.