FACTORS AFFECTING

HEALTH
• Many factors combine together to
affect the health of individuals and
communities.
• Whether people are healthy or not, is
determined by their circumstances
and
 environment.
where we live
 the state of our
envrt
More commonly
genetics considered factors-
income and  access and use of
education level health care services
our relationships
with friends and less of an impact.
family
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Major determinantsSocio
of health
economi
Social c
Support Nutritio
conditio n
Network ns
s

Environ Healt Physica

-ment l envt.
h

Geneti Gende
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service
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 The major determinants of health
HEREDITY/GENETICS
 
•Genetic makeup is unique, cannot be
altered after conception.
• Inheritance plays a part in determining
lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of
developing certain illnesses.

GENDER
Men and women suffer from different
types of diseases at different ages.

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ENVIRONMENT (Physical envt.)
Hippocrates related disease to envt-
climate, water, air, etc.

• Envt. has direct impact on physical,

mental and social well-being of those
living in it.

•Envtal factors- housing, water supply,

psychosocial stress & family structure
thru social & economic support systems,
organization of health & social welfare
services in the community.
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HEALTH SERVICES
Access and use of services that prevent
and treat disease influences health.

SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Greater support from families, friends
and communities is linked to better
health.
Culture - customs and traditions, and the
beliefs of the family and community all
affect health.

NUTRITION
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SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
(i) Economic status-
 Determines the purchasing power, std of
living, qlty of life, pattern of disease.
 Imp factor in seeking health care.
 Affluence may also contribute to diseases.
(ii) Education-
 Female education
 Education compensates the effects of
poverty on health. IMR in Kerala 14, India 71
(1999).
(iii) Occupation-
 People in employment are healthier.
 Loss of work- loss of income & status.
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SOCIO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
(iv) Political system-
 Implementation of health technologies
are not technological, but rather political.
 How can pol syst shape community
health services?
Decisions concerning resource
allocation, manpower policy, choice of
technology & the degree to which
health services are made available to diff
segments of the society.

 %age of GNP spent on health is a

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quantitative indicator of political
OTHER FACTORS
Health related systems- Food &
agriculture
Education
Industry
Social welfare
Rural Development

Adoption of policies in the economic &

social fields that wld assist in raising the
stds of living- Employment opportunities,
increased wages, prepaid medical
programmes & family support systems.
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