Outlining the Environmental Determinant of Health
The determinants of health are a series of personal, social, economic, and environmental factors that impact populations. The social determinants of health are formed by the impact of the distribution of power and resources at the global, national, and local levels, which, in turn, is the effect of policies (Badland et al., 2014). The selected digital photograph illustrates the environmental determinants of health and the relationship with the category of social justice. The photo depicts the earthquake in Nepal, reflecting environmental, social, and personal challenges, which directly influence the determinants of health. One may note that social factors are closely related to the functional state and protective reactions of the body as well as behavior (de Andrade et al., 2014). This factor, in turn, defines the likelihood of some diseases, including mental disorders. Due to the high temperature of air and limited physical activity of people, the risk of the cardiovascular system and kidney diseases increases. More to the point, it promotes the development of inflammation of respiratory organs and rheumatism.
This photo of the earthquake in Nepal shows the environmental problem, which directly influences people’s health. In particular, there are homes of people who lived in a remote area and had to leave this place due to the threat to their lives. Since a person is a part of nature, environmental factors affect him or her, even though there are many abiotic and biotic factors. First of all, the direct cause of disruption and the emergence of a pathological process is composed of various factors of the environment (World Health Organization, 2018). It is quite apparent that, for example, the relationships of the geographical distribution of some pathological conditions such as frostbite, heatstroke, mountain sickness, and creeping corneal ulcers are associated with climatic zones, altitude above sea level, and the intensity of ultraviolet radiation.
Second, the biotic components of the earthquake may contain etiologic agents in the form of pathogenic microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, which is dangerous for animals and plants. The role of the environment and different periods can also be traced via various violations related to nutrition, a lack of food resources of animal and vegetable origin, as well as mineral salts in different regions of the Earth. Bircher and Kuruvilla (2014) state that “environmental determinants based on the definition of environmental health, include all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person and all the related factors impacting behaviors” (p.364). Thus, the following factors and their groups influence the formation of population health: climate, surface, groundwater, the geological structure of the territory, soil cover, flora, and fauna. Lifestyles and socio-economic conditions, including the quality of medical care as well as environmental pollution, also matter.
Identifying the Approaches to Improve a Health Status and Equity
The most common approach to understanding the concept of equity is adequate access to medical care. The first effective way to influence the environmental determinants of health is to ensure that healthcare services are available to people suffering from the earthquake. The government should necessarily include active primary medical service, prevention of diseases, and health promotion programs.
Changes in the determinants of health – in lifestyle and conditions life – should be planned, including advocacy, health promotion, disease prevention, and primary health care (Donkin, Goldblatt, Allen, Nathanson, & Marmot, 2018). The government should initiate the reorientation of health services.
The second approach that may be considered in terms of enhancing health conditions is the collaboration of healthcare and Earthquake Preparedness and Response organizations. According to Baack and Alfred (2013), nurses and other care providers should be ready for emergencies to provide timely and relevant services. The study by Baack and Alfred (2013) shows that many nurses were confused with completing the questionnaire that targeted their knowledge and skills related to emergency services. They were unaware of how to behave with patients and how to plan their treatment process. The response to disasters proved to be a critical topic that needs to be covered during training in terms of additional education. The findings of the mentioned study also demonstrate that self‐regulation of behavior, also known as motivation, is an important factor (Baack & Alfred, 2013). It impacts nurses’ risk identification and adequate response to patients’ needs that require immediate actions. Based on this study, it becomes evident that nurses, especially those working in seismic zones, should be provided with special training in collaboration with organizations that monitor and control natural disasters.
The introduction of a social support program is the second approach that may be used to improve the health status of people whose houses were destructed. One of the most critical features of earthquakes is that they lead to poverty. Social exclusion, poor housing conditions, and weak health systems are among the essential social causes of many diseases. Experts claim that “the poor and disadvantaged suffer disproportionately, but those in the middle of the social gradient are also affected” (Allen, Balfour, Bell, & Marmot, 2014, p. 392). The factors that can change the situation with the health status are income level, education, employment, and working conditions. These issues are critical to assist people to find a good job and address poverty. In this connection, the development of public health policies may strengthen community action in the interests of health and eliminating socially conditioned health inequities (United Nations, 2016). It is important to use different tools of the statutory ordinance as well as combine hard and soft law.
Reflecting on the Process of Taking the Photo
While working on this assignment, I understood that there are various determinants of health among which environmental and social ones are closely intertwined. The process of taking the photo made me think that earthquakes are rather destructive events that lead to diseases and social challenges such as poverty. The selected photo shows that destroyed housing is not suitable for living without additional mending. Often, people have no opportunity to repair them as they have physical damage and stress. In this regard, I believe that the collaboration of healthcare and earthquake monitoring organizations is one of the most relevant, promising, and vitally essential actions that may be implemented.
Today, environmental problems today are of a political and interstate nature. Therefore, experts should study and analyze these aspects to find a solution to facilitate the negative impacts of earthquakes. In terms of health, the environmental determinant discussed in this paper is critical to the well-being of people. In my point of view, the paramount role of health care professionals is to help them in adapting to life after the disaster. Even though the process of treatment may be long and challenging, it is important to ensure that these patients receive high-quality care and proper attention.
References
Allen, J., Balfour, R., Bell, R., & Marmot, M. (2014). Social determinants of mental health. International Review of Psychiatry, 26(4), 392-407.
Baack, S., & Alfred, D. (2013). Nurses’ preparedness and perceived competence in managing disasters. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 45(3), 281-287.
Badland, H., Whitzman, C., Lowe, M., Davern, M., Aye, L., Butterworth, I., … Giles-Corti, B. (2014). Urban liveability: Emerging lessons from Australia for exploring the potential for indicators to measure the social determinants of health. Social Science & Medicine, 111(6), 64-73.
Bircher, J., & Kuruvilla, S. (2014). Defining health by addressing individual, social, and environmental determinants: New opportunities for health care and public health. Journal of Public Health Policy, 35(3), 363–386.
de Andrade, L. O. M., Pellegrini Filho, A., Solar, O., Rígoli, F., de Salazar, L. M., Serrate, P. C. F.,… Atun, R. (2015). Social determinants of health, universal health coverage, and sustainable development: Case studies from Latin American countries. The Lancet, 385(9975), 1343-1351.
Donkin, A., Goldblatt, P., Allen, J., Nathanson, V., & Marmot, M. (2018). Global action on the social determinants of health. BMJ Global Health, 3(1), 1-7.
United Nations. (2016). Healthy environment, healthy people. Web.
World Health Organization. (2018). The determinants of health. Web.