Social Determinants of Health
The World Health Organization (n.d.) defines the social determinants of health (SDH) as the “non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life”. These factors have a sizeable influence on health. They also evidently show the inequalities between socio-economic status, countries etc. The Government of Canada (n.d.) describes health inequality as being unfair or unjust and also modifiable.
How are health inequalities minimized? There are many ways to reduce the inequalities and to provide everyone with the opportunity to live healthy. The Government of Canada lists three ways to reduce inequalities. They are to strengthen the evidence base to inform decision making, engage beyond the health sector and share knowledge across Canada.
Living in British Columbia, this blog will focus on the social determinants and health standards set within the province. The Government of British Columbia is in the process of developing a set of standards. It is called the Social Determinants of Health Standards. It is still in the development phase, but they have identified key domains. This standard intends to improve provincial programs and services by standardizing terminology, improving culturally safer care, bringing the data into health records and improving information practices including and not limited to principles and policies and the storing of information (British Columbia Government, n.d.). My question is why hasn’t this standard been developed? Social determinants of health are not new.
I actively work as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse in British Columbia. I am a member of the British Columbia Nurses Union (BCNU). The BCNU released a position statement related to social determinants of health. They expressed the need for health advocacy by highlighting how British Columbia is one of the wealthiest provinces in Canada and that wealth is not being evenly distributed. They specifically highlighted the need for basic needs such as clean water. Many remote communities within the province do not have clean drinking water. The BCNU(2019) believes that health equity can be established by eliminating poverty and valuing all members of society. They want to follow Newfoundland and Labrador in their approaches to reducing poverty. In 2006, both Newfoundland and Labrador implemented a poverty reduction strategy. The BCNU also want to emphasize the importance of education and training as it will help to change negative attitudes and practices against certain communities
In conclusion, social determinants of health are widely recognized within Canada. The Government of Canada recognizes the inequalities faced by many. Provinces are identifying a need for change and attempting to implement that change. At the forefront, health care providers are advocating for change and being that change.
Reference
British Columbia Government. (n.d.). B.C. social determinants of health standards. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-resources/health-information-standards/standards-catalogue/bc-social-determinants-of-health-standards
British Columbia Nurses Union. (2019). Position-statement-social-determinants-of-health [PDF]. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://www.bcnu.org/AboutBcnu/Documents/position-statement-social-determinants-of-health.pdf
Government of Canada. (n.d.). Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequalities. Retrieved February 11, 2022, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Constitution. Retrieved February 5, 2022, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1
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