Health Sciences 2801A/B Lecture Notes - Needs Assessment, Ottawa Charter For Health Promotion, Victim Blaming
12 Sep 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The determinants of health are factors & influences that shape the health of individuals & communities. Income influences health - the more money you have, the healthier you are. Income is one of the most important determinants of health. Health improves at each step up the income & social ladder. A gap b/w the rich & poor exists for most types of illnesses & for almost all causes of death. These studies show that health is a function of both the absolute average income of a country (gnp per capita) and its income distribution (the degree to which income is equitably distributed among different socioeconomic groups). There is no single most important factor responsible for the health of populations. It is the interaction of behavior, biology & the environments that is important. The environment modifies the effects of individual behavior & biology. Social status refers to a person"s rank or social position in relation to others - their relative importance.
