This article, “Social determinants of health inequalities” illustrated by Michael Marmot seeks to address the extensively broad differences between the life expectancies from country to country and how that is reflected from social determinants. Social determinants of health are defined as the economic and social states that directly correlated to the overall physical and mental health of a particular society (Healthy People). The term “inequalities” is used to help emphasize the unfairness that inevitably comes along with the direct connection to social and economic statuses of a county and it’s overall health. It’s strongly portrayed by Marmot that the socioeconomic status, poverty level, and education levels of entities in these countries should not define the life length of an individual. Marmot emphasizes his belief that this being should be a public concern and policy change should be implemented not only looking at the “health” perspective but in taking in every perspective. This issue has been resignation for a long time World Health Organization (WHO) is working to implement change and bring awareness to this issue by starting a commission to “link knowledge with action”. The World Health Organization believes that not only does this matter need to be discussed, but it also needs to be brought about change. If the health of an overall country is being deteriorated, then social change has to be a factor that’s considered.
Marmot begins with exemplifying the inequality of the almost 50-year life expectancy gap differentiation between Serria Loione and Japan and the 20-year life expectancy gap between the more prosperous and disadvantaged parts of the United Staes. Research conducts that this being is the effects of social determinants such as poverty levels, socioeconomic statuses, etc. From knowledge conducted throughout the course, this research is true as directly represented in this documentary shown, “Unnatural Causes: Is inequality Making Us Sick?” where studies were held on individuals from totally inverse backgrounds. Even there, it was proven that individuals from lower-income and impoverished backgrounds, in our society, inevitably have bad health. Whether it be in result of lack of nutrition, insufficient health care, or local diseases not being properly managed.
Research presented in this article represents the fact that within countries, households that maintain a lower socioeconomic background have a higher child mortality rate. Marmot highlights impoverished Sierra Leone and how they face material deprivation among many areas. Marmot lets us know that even the polices that are put into place regarding the material deprivation there are even socially unequal. Marmot talks about two ways that just acknowledging those depressors aren’t good enough: the policies that have been implemented doesn’t solve this problem, in the end, it still leaves the people in the lowest ranks out of the equation. Just simply giving clean water and adequate health services aren’t justified as doing as such. Also, structural policies that have been approvably put into place have yet to include every individual and in result leaving disadvantaged peoples out.
Marmot highlights that poor health is not solely restricted to “poor” populations or social rankings, rather, one’s socioeconomic background and their education also have a lying effect. The research entails in looking at Bangledesh, the mortality rates of adults immensely rely on their level of education. This brings up Marmot’s secondary argument. He depicts how Islanders of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait of Australia have higher rates of mortality in adults as a result of non-communicable diseases which include autoimmune diseases, strokes, heart diseases, most cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (World Health) which represents health looking in a worldwide view. Fixing the problem of just poverty alone doesn’t help the reason for high mortality rates in the lives of the Islanders. This being required a deeper look into social determinants of health being as though poverty can be represented in different forms. As an example, Marmot uses Africa as a representation for less fortunate countries and explains that as the major cause of the high rate of mortality is a communicable disease. Marmot says “we need to examine the ‘causes of the causes’” (a term that he gathered from Geoffery Rose) that highlights the social conditions that in time, produces these great amounts of non-communicable diseases.
Marmot briefly highlights how mental illness can be an element in poor health “worldwide, the second-highest cause of disease burden among adults is depressive disorder” (Marmot). The biopsychosocial model is a direct representation of that fact. A clear portrayal of how psychological and social determinants can greatly impact the overall health of an entity.
With all his gatherings Marmot resulted in the formulation of a simple question that has a complex answer—society knows that poverty is a residing factor as it pertains to worldwide disease, mortality rates, and all social determinants and those facts are acknowledged.—who knows what solution to formulate to fix this issue? This is what the World Health Organization Commission on social health determinants is trying to figure out. These pressing issues are having a major impact on society today. Marson signifies how rich countries have put policies into place that has impacted health. European and Sweden countries have put policies into place that have provided an enhancement of health.
The World Health Organization Commission on social determinants of health has concluded two themes given the issues discussed. According to Marmot, they concluded that if the determinants of public health are social, the solution would be drawn out in a social aspect as well. Secondly, there should be a question of the flourishment of a population that is frequently observed, and it is to be looked upon in measuring the health status of that population.
I’m in agreement with these solutions because a social problem does require a social solution. The policies that have been implemented in past years obviously have not been as effective as the need to be and the research is there to prove that. Also, frequent checks of the overall health status of a population can provide insight into what needs to be worked on and what areas don’t need as much attention.
Recommendations
All of the ideas formulated inside this article about finding the solution to this social injustice of poor public health are exceptionally sensible. Some other facets that can have a ruling impact on policy changes and things to be done to improve this issue could be creating more businesses to go out and give free examinations and implementation of care to these people who generally cannot afford it. The solution to ending poverty has been a puzzle that the world hasn’t been able to rightfully solve for years—because of the broadness of that topic, there’s no saying exactly what is the correct solution. In acknowledgment of that fact, it’s important to consider that the subject of poverty is hard but it has to be looked at inwardly in a way that includes all people from all populations.
