Determinants of Health

Determinants of health refer to the various factors that influence the health status of individuals.

A number of factors determine an individual’s health. They are as follows:

1. Heredity.
2. Lifestyle.
3. Environment.
4. Education.
5. Health care service.
6. Personal health practices.
7. Income and social status.
8. Gender.
9. Employment and working conditions.

Heredity:

Inheritance plays a part in determining life span, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. 

Lifestyle:

Lifestyle refers to the collective impact of an individual’s personal decisions and behaviours, especially those within their control, that affect their well-being.

Lifestyle is the interests, opinions, behaviours and behavioural orientations of an individual, group, or culture. Lifestyle is someone’s way of living. Lifestyle can be healthy or unhealthy depending on your food choices or activity level, and behaviour. A good lifestyle brings happiness while a negative/bad lifestyle often leads to sadness, illness and depression. 

 Lifestyle does not only include an individual’s choices but also the influence of social, economic and environmental factors on the decisions people make about their health. People can improve their health through exercise, sleep, maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting alcohol use and avoiding smoking. 

Physical Environment:

Factors such as clean water, air, adequate housing, safe communities and good roads have been found to contribute to the good health of infants and children. 

Adequate housing, clean air, and safe communities are vital for preventing diseases and promoting healthy development in children

Education:

Health status improves with the level of education. Health habits are acquired through education, which positively affects health. 

Health Care Services: 

Health services, particularly those designed to maintain and promote health and function, contribute to population health. Certain diseases can be controlled if essential health services are available. If these health services are not available or insufficient, the health of the individuals will be adversely affected. 

Personal Health Practices and Coping Skills:

These refer to those actions which individuals can prevent diseases and promote self-care, cope with challenges and develop self-reliance, solve problems and make choices that enhance health. 

Health practices in personal health include: 

• Eating a balanced diet 
• Bathing regularly
• Regular brushing of teeth
• Personal cleanliness of the body, hair, eyes, ears, nose, etc.
• Wearing clean clothes and shoes 
• Washing of hands before and after meals and visiting the toilet
• Regular exercise
• Avoidance of indiscriminate use of drugs/self-medication
• Prompt medical checkup
• Adequate rest, sleep and relaxation, etc

Income and Social Status:

Health status improves at each step up the income and social hierarchy. High income determines living conditions such as safe housing and the ability to buy sufficient good food. The healthiest population are those in societies which are prosperous and have an equitable distribution of wealth. 

Gender: 

Gender refers to the array of society-determined roles, personality traits, attitudes, behaviour, values, relative power and influence that societyThe term society is derived from the Latin word 'socius' meaning friendship or companionship. Society is a community, nation or group of people who share the same traditions, institutions, rules and... More ascribes to individuals based on their perceived gender.

Some women are not allowed to eat certain types of food, especially when they are pregnant. Such foods include snails, muttin, snakes, grass cutter, and all other types of meat, superstitiously believed to affect the child’s behaviour in the womb. 

Men and women suffer from different diseases at different ages. 

Culture: 

Customs, traditions, and beliefs of the family and community affect health. Some cultures do not permit children to eat meat and eggs.

In the mid-west state of Nigeria, meat and eggs are not usually given to children, because parents believe it will make the children steal/grow up to be thieves.

Some believe consuming a specific food (like soup made with meat) is believed to provide sufficient sustenance or fulfil a ritualistic need, thus making it no longer necessary.

Employment and Working Conditions: 

Unemployment, underemployment, stressful and unsafe work are associated with poorer health. People who have more control over their work circumstances and fewer stress-related demands of their job are healthier and often live longer than those in more stressful or riskier work or activities. This is because work-related stress can negatively impact physical and mental well-being.

Social Support Networks:

Strong social support from families, friends, and communities is associated with better health outcomes, including reduced risk of chronic diseases and improved mental well-being. This support can provide emotional comfort, practical assistance, and a sense of belonging, which in turn can help individuals manage stress, improve mood, and adopt healthier behaviours. 

Strong social relationships and the sense of satisfaction and well-being they provide are considered to act as a buffer against health problems, particularly mental health issues.