Determinants of health

● Objectives:
1- Understand the spectrum of health in relation to health and sickness
2- Define; health, disease, illness and wellbeing
3- Define and understand the determinants’ of health; biological, behavioral, socio
and
cultural, environmental, socioeconomic, health services, and aging and gender
4- Understand the concepts of “right to health “ and “health for all”

Done by : Abdulrahman alaujan - Abdulrahman alturki - Majd

albarrak - Rinad alghoraiby
Leader: Aljouhara Alibrahim
Reviewed by: Aseel Badukhon

Resources :
Slides
Doctors notes

[Colors index : Important | Notes | Slides | Extra] [ Editing file | Share note ]
 Spectrum of Health
Positive health is defined differently among different specialties

● Health and disease lie along a continuum, and there is no single cut-off point
● The lowest point on the health-disease spectrum is death and the highest point
corresponds to the WHO definition of positive health
● The health of an individual is not static; it is a dynamic phenomenon and a
process of continuous change
● There are degrees or "levels of health" as there are degrees or severity of illness.
As long as we are alive there is some degree of health in us.
There are many factors that interact to determine our health. WE CAN NOT quantify our health like saying your
health is 40%. For example, you started your day feeling fresh and relaxed but then you started your work and you had
argued with some colleagues and then your energy and mood went down so you took your coffee and that made you
feel better!

Definitions: Health, Disease, Illness, Sickness, Wellbeing

Health is a relative concept ! Definitions are super important!!!

It is relative to
● Where on the spectrum of health the person is.
e.g.: if someone’s okay physically but not
● The health dimensions (physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional, vocational dimensions) mentally he’s not healthy.
● Local conditions and health standards.
If someone’s at war, he wouldn’t be worried about a flu. While in well-developed countries a person might go to the dermatologist just because of a pimple in their face.
so it’s important to consider the local conditions when talking about health.
E.g.: someone telling their mother they feel sick but the mother insists they’re fine or a mother rushing her kid to the ER thinking they are not ok (according to the mother’s
perspective).

Definitions: Health
● The oldest definition is that health is the "absence of disease".

● World Health Organization (1948): Very important definition

○ "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely an absence
of disease or infirmity"
● In recent years, this statement has been amplified to include the ability to lead a "socially and economically productive life"

Definitions: The trilogy of Disease, Illness, Sickness The difference depends on who’s reporting

Disease Illness Sickness

● A condition that is diagnosed by a ● Ill health that the person identifies ● Social & cultural conception of a
physician or other medical expert. themselves with, often based on self person’s condition.
reported mental or physical "When it interferes with your life"
symptoms.
● It can be Acute or Chronic
→ (Physician) → (Patient) → (Society)
Example

Missed class or work due to Flu

Flu diagnosed by a physician Flu reported by the patient
(Sick leave)
 Definitions: Health, Disease, Illness, Sickness, Wellbeing
There is no satisfactory definition of the term well-being!

Well being

Objective Components Subjective Components

Standard of Living Level of Living Quality of Life

PQLI HDI

Dr said “i don’t expect you to know them but i want you to see how complex it is”
Indicator (‫)ﻣﻌﯿﺎر‬
Index (‫ ﻋﺪة ﻣﻌﺎﯾﯿﺮ‬:(‫ﻣﺆﺷﺮ‬
Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) Human Development Index (HDI)

1. Infant mortality 1. Life expectancy at birth (longevity)

2. Life expectancy at age one 2. Mean years of schooling (knowledge)
Indicators used in
3. literacy 3. Expected years of schooling (knowledge)
calculating this index
4. GNI, gross national income, per capita
(income/ decent standard of living)

From 0-100 Values from 0 to 1

Scale 0 is worst performance and 100 is best
performance

● The results of social, economic, and

It reflects achievements in the most basic human
It measures political policies.
capabilities
● Does NOT measure economic growth
We have these indices to allow for national and
Both allow for National and International Comparison international comparison

Determinants of Health: Definition, Types, and Levels

pic is not important for the exam, you just need to
Important for the exam know that health has many layers affecting it.

“Many factors combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities.”
Health services are NOT health determinants and knowing the difference will create huge difference
in the health care efficacy

1) Biological:
It has a positive impact especially
Genetic predisposition 4) Socio-economic: on women
Economic status: Education, Women health is having
an increasing attention
Employment, Housing 7) Gender: because of how complex
2) Behavioral and socio-cultural: it is
Cultural and behavior patterns, life long notice it’s not the same as
Women's health covering nutrition,
5) Health services: health CARE services reproductive health, the health
habits developed from socialization (eg:
smoking, staying up late!) Services for treatment of disease, consequences of violence, ageing, lifestyle
prevention, and promotion of health. related conditions and the occupational
3) Environment: environment.
internal= your body
Internal – internal medicine! / external 6) Aging population:
8) Other:
(macro-environment: things you’re Increased burden of chronic diseases Information technology, health related
exposed to after conception)
e.g. pregnant mother smoking systems like agriculture and food
Although technology is great, not everyone know how to use
them + there are some places without network coverage
 Determinants of Health: Definition, Types, and Levels

Type of Determinant Analysis

1) Biological: Genetic predisposition / Obese parents

High TV, computer, electronic entertainment use

2) Behavioral and
Sedentary lifestyle
socio-cultural:
Car-only mode of transportation

Internal: Hypothyroidism, Syndromic / External: High

consumption of fatty takeaway foods / Low consumption of fruits,
3) Environment:
vegetables and fiber rich foods / Poor walkable environment / Easy
access to convenience stores / Extensive unhealthy food marketing

4) Socio-economic: Unemployment / Low disposable income / Rural area Limited health

services

5) Health services: Limited preventive services / Delayed access to treatment

6) Gender Male obesity is more prevalent than females in Saudi Arabia

Weak food policy & pricing

7) Others
High Cost of organized physical activity programs/sport

“Right to Health” & “Health for All”

Right to Health Health for All

● Historically, the right to health was one of the last to be

proclaimed in the Constitutions of most countries. ● Decided by the 30th World Health Assembly in year
● Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): 1977.
"Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate ● They decided that the main social target of
for the health and well-being of himself and his family governments and WHO in the coming decades should
..... ". be "the attainment by all citizens of the world by the
● WHO Constitution introduction affirms that it is one of year 2000 of a level of health that will permit them to
the fundamental rights of every human being to enjoy lead a socially and economically productive life"
"the highest attainable standard of health".

Unlikely to come in the exam, but if it comes the question will be about the definition
 Summary
Spectrum of health
Definition: it is a dynamic phenomenon and a process of continuous
change

Health
Definition : Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social
well-being and not merely an absence of disease or
infirmity.
Definitions of Disease, Illness, Sickness
Disease Illness Sickness

● A condition that is diagnosed by a ● Ill health that the person identifies ● Social & cultural conception of a
physician or other medical expert. themselves with, often based on self person’s condition.
reported mental or physical
symptoms.
● It can be Acute or Chronic
→ (Physician) → (Patient) → (Society)

Missed class or work due to Flu

Flu diagnosed by a physician Flu reported by the patient
(Sick leave)

Determinants of Health

Definition : Many factors combine together to affect the health of

individuals and communities .
1- biological 2- behavioral and socio-cultural 3- environment
4- socio-economic 5- health services 6- aging population 7- gender
8- other

Health for All

Definition: the attainment by all citizens of the world by the year 2000 of a
level of health that will permit them to lead a socially
and economically productive life.
 MCQs

1. social & cultural conception of a person’s condition definition of ….?

A- Illness
B- sickness
C- disease
D- health

2. Which of the following health determinants has the highest impact on

women?

A- Genetic predisposition
B- Education
C- Information technology
D- Race

3.” the attainment by all citizens of the world by the year 2000 of a level of
health that will permit them to lead a socially
and economically productive life” definition of ?

A- Determinants of Health
B- Health for all
C- Right to Health
D- Quality of Life

4. Which of the following it reflects achievements in the most basic human

capabilities ?

A- Human Development Index

B- Physical Quality of Life Index
C- Standard of living
D- Level of living
1-B 2-B 3-B 4-A