Nursing: Determinants of health and their impact on population (Essay Sample)

Determinants of Health and their Impact on Population Name: Institution: Key determinants of health and impact The success or growth of any population highly depends on the health status of its members. There are numerous health determinants, and each of them affects cultures differently. Education is the first determinant, whereby areas with people with low levels of education tend to have more stress and low self-confidence, factors that contribute to poor health (Parmar, 2008). Income is the other factor that forces people with higher wages or social status to enjoy better medical facilities, hence good health (Davidson, 2014). The physical environment of an individual also determines whether they will receive poor or quality healthcare (Stanhope and Lancaster, 2008). For instance, people living near dirty water, roads and even low-quality houses are at a higher risk of contracting diseases, compared to those living near clean water, away from roads, and in quality homes, respectively. Other determinants of health include social support networks, gender, health services, and even cultural beliefs (Commers, 2002). The Yoruba people of Nigeria believe that God is the supreme controller of everything that takes place on earth. Therefore, the community’s culture does not allow people to seek medical help when sick (Ayodele, 2002). Therefore, the Yoruba culture is an impediment that blocks the community from accessing healthcare services. As a result, most people who fall ill in the community die without medical assistance (Bhui and Bhugra, 2007). The culture stipulates that a sick person should wait to get well, through divine intervention, without the input of modern medicine. Poverty is also very prevalent in the North African community (Sachs, 2005). Lack of basic education and employment forces the residents to work odd jobs, which only provide for food, leaving no money for medical services. Lastly, the low living standards of the Yoruba people make it impossible for them to seek medical care, even when it is needed. Medical services ...