Health Education and Promotion Department

Umm Al-Qura UniversityFaculty of Public Health and Health Informatics

By: Dr. Ahmed Abdullah

Factors Affecting Health

Health

Health Determinants

Factors Affect The Health

Contents of the Lecture

Health

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Factor Affecting the Health

• In order to improve population health status and reduce health inequalities, it is important to identify and understand the main factors that protect and promote good health. These factors are known as the determinants of health.

FIFTH LEVEL

Health determinants• The causes of poor health are complex.• Age, sex and hereditary (genetic) factors are central but not

modifiable. • Demographic changes also affect population health.• Individual lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking and alcohol,

physical activity and sexual behaviour are also important. • A clean and safe environment, adequate income, meaningful

roles in society, good housing, population-based services and utilities, affordable nutritious food, education and social support within communities all contribute towards good health.

Health Determinant

Health is determined by a convergence of five levels:

1. human biology, hereditary factors, age, sex, person’s individual characteristics.

2. Individual life style.3. Social and community influence.4. Living and working condition.5. General socioeconomic and cultural and

environmental conditions.

Human Biology

• It includes those aspects of health (both mental and physical) which are determined by the organic structure and physiological functioning of the human body.

FIRST LEVEL

Hereditary Factors• Inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan,

healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses.

• The inheritance factors are can be:RaceSex Inherited Diseases

FIRST LEVEL

Individual Life Style• Behavioral Influences:Tobacco useUnhealthy diet Inadequate activity Alcohol and drug useBehaviors leading to intentional/unintentional injury.• Personal behavior:coping skills and how we deal with life’s stresses and

challenges are among the factors that affect the health.

FIRST LEVEL

Social and Community Factors

• The social and community factors that have been shown in a variety of settings to have the greatest influence on health are:

EducationSocial cohesionsocial connectedness.

SECOND LEVEL

Education

• Education has profound health effects. More education makes an individual more aware of healthy and unhealthy choices and makes it easier to make healthy choices.

• A low level of education is associated with poor health status.

• Low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence.

SECOND LEVEL

Social Cohesion

• People with strong family, cultural and community bonds have better health than people who are socially isolated.

SECOND LEVEL

Social Connectedness

• Social connectedness is related to the health of individuals and communities.

• Single parent families, people with mental illness, people with disabilities, people living alone and older people are particularly vulnerable to social isolation.

SECOND LEVEL

Community

• Characteristics of communities can influence health in many ways either direct or indirect. For example, neighborhoods can be physically hazardous because of air and chemical pollution, traffic, lack of sidewalks and safe places to exercise, and the dangers of crime.

SECOND LEVEL

Living and Working Condition

• Housing• Work• Employment and Occupation

THIRD LEVEL

Housing

• Overcrowding, damp and cold have direct effects on physical and mental health.

• High housing costs leave less money for other budget items essential to good health including nutritious food, education, and access to health services.

THIRD LEVEL

Housing

• Poor-quality housing poses a risk of exposure to many conditions that can contribute to poor health, such as indoor allergens that can lead to (and increase) asthma, injuries, and exposure to lead and other toxic substances.

THIRD LEVEL

Work

• Work can influence health in many ways, including through links both with health care insurance and with physically hazardous exposures in the workplace.

THIRD LEVEL

Employment and occupation

• The main factor determining adequate income is participation in continuous employment.

• As such, employment is an important determinant of health.

• In addition to providing income, employment enhances social status and improves self-esteem, provides social contact and a way of participating in community life, and enhances opportunities for regular activity, which all help to enhance individual health and well-being.

FOURTH LEVEL

Employment and working conditions

• people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have more control over their working conditions

FOURTH LEVEL

General socioeconomic and cultural and environmental conditions

IncomePovertyEthnicityCultureEnvironment

FIFTH LEVEL

Income

• Income is the single most important determinant of health. There is a persistent correlation between low income and poor health.

• the low income leads to the highest rates of illness and death.

• Adequate income is a prerequisite for many other determinants of health, for example, adequate housing, a nutritious diet and educational opportunities.

FIFTH LEVEL

Income and social status

• Higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.

FIFTH LEVEL

Poverty

• Poverty has long been recognized as an important determinant of ill health.

• People who are poor have worse self-reported health, higher rates of disability, and higher rates of death, disease and injury.

FIFTH LEVEL

Race and Ethnicity

• Racial and ethnic background has profound effects on an individual’s health.

• There are advantages and disadvantages of race and ethnicity that can affect the health.

FIFTH LEVEL

Cultural Factors

• Definitions of Culture:A system of thoughts & behaviors shared by a

group of people.Refers to an integrated pattern of belief and

behavior.

FIFTH LEVEL

Culture and Ethnicity

• Cultural factors can have both a positive and a negative influence on health.

• Health inequalities within ethnic groups are as important as health inequalities between different ethnic groups.

FIFTH LEVEL

Environmental FactorsFIFTH LEVEL

The Physical Environment :The quality of air.water safety.Food safety.Drugs and other chemicals products.Waste disposal. control of excessive noise. Lighting.The radiation.

• Utilities such as water and sewerage reticulation contributed towards large improvements in population health.

• Maintenance of these services, is essential to protecting population health and should be a high priority.

Population-based services and facilities