Question

What are social determinants of health? Explain how social determinants of health contribute to the development of disease. Describe the fundamental idea that the communicable disease chain model is designed to represent. Give an example of the steps a nurse can take to break the link within the communicable disease chain.

Resources within your text covering international/global health, and the websites in the topic materials, will assist you in answering this discussion question.

Answer 1

Socio- Economic conditions have long been known to influence human health.it includes Economic status,education,Occupation and Political system.

Economic status-The percapita GNP is the most widely accepted measure of general economic performance.it is also an important factor in seeking health care.Ironically,affluence may also be a contributory cause of illness as exemplified by high rates of coronary heart disease,diabetes,obesity in the upper socio-economic groups.

Education- A second major factor influencing health status is education.The world map of illiteracy closely coincides with the maps of poverty ,malnutrition,illhealth,high infant and child mortality rates.

Occupation-The very state of being employed in productive work promotes health,because the unemployed usually shows a higher incidence of illhealth and death.

Political system-Health is also related to the countrys political system.if poor health patterns are to be changed ,then changes must be made in the entire socio political system in any given community.Social,economic and political actions are required to eliminate health hazards in peoples working and living environments.

2 Communicable diseases are transmitted from the reservoir/source of infection to susceptible host.Basically there are three links in the chain of transmission ,the reservoir,modes of transmission and the susceptibe host.

The starting point of the occurence of a communicable disease is the existence of a reservoir or source of infection .Communicable diseases may be transmitted from the reservoir of infection to a susceptible individual in many different ways,depending upon the infectious agent,portal of enty and the local ecological conditions.Four stages have been described in successful parasitism,First ,the infectious agent must find a portal of entry by which it may enter the host.On gaining entry into the host,the organisms must reach the appropriate tissue or site of election in the body of host where it may find optimum conditions for its multiplication and survival.Thirdly the disease agent must find a way out of the body inorder that it may reach a new host and propagate its species.

3.A major aspect of communicable disease control relates to breaking of chain of transmission.

Example of the steps nurse take to break the link of reservoir

• Assist clients to carry out appropriate skin and oral hygiene
• Dispose of damp soiled linens appropriately.
• Dispose of faeces and urine in appropriate receptacles.
• Ensure that all fluid containers ,such as bedside water jugs and suction and drainage bottles are covered or capped.