Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) describe aspects of a person’s birth, living, learning, working, playing, worshipping, and aging environments that significantly impact their health, functionality, and well-being (Healthy People 2020, 2022). Because of their profound effects on an individual’s health, these factors should be considered when assessing what kind of health promotion is required. Some examples of SDoH are the availability of medical care, healthy food, support networks, a secure place to live, and a good education.
The disease development directly results from SDoH since they are to blame for health disparities. Various social determinants increase the likelihood of sickness, including poverty, substandard housing, social isolation, lack of uncontaminated water, restricted availability of health care, and insufficient medical systems (Maani & Galea, 2020). If a person has trouble getting to the doctor, does not have a clean place to live in, or does not have enough food, they may become depressed, develop high blood pressure, or have a stroke due to their stress. To promote social fairness and health equity, nurses must be familiar with SDoH and how they affect persons, families, and the public.
Considering the communicable disease chain can help understand the transmission of an ailment from one patient to another. Infectious agents (such as viruses and bacteria), reservoir (animal or human), and exit gateway (body section through which a disease leaves the reservoir, for example, anus, mouth, nostrils) are just three of the six components presented in the model (Healthy People 2020, 2022). In addition, there are the vectors (the people who transmit the disease), the entry points (where the virus or bacteria penetrates a new host; for example, cholera gets into the body through the mouth), and the hosts themselves (vulnerable organisms).
Each link is essential in the transmission, prevention, and eradication of communicable illness, and the nurse must grasp it as a major participant in community health. Nurses can play an important role in breaking the transmission cycle of infectious diseases through a number of strategies (Maani & Galea, 2020). The nurse can help stop the spread of disease by enhancing measures including washing hands thoroughly, using protective gear, adhering to standard precautions, and doing thorough cleanings and sanitizations.
References
Healthy People 2020 (2022). Social determinants of health. Web.
Maani, N., & Galea, S. (2020). The role of physicians in addressing social determinants of health. Jama, 323(16), 1551-1552.