Determinants of health for MBBS students

Important topic for UG students

1. Determinants of health

2. Health is multifactorial
HEALTHBiological
Behavioural
Sociocultural
Socioeconomic
Environmental
Health services
Aging
Gender
Others

3. Biological determinants
•Nonmodifiable
•Diseases like mental retardation, diabetes, chromosomal
anomalies
•Defined as state of individual based upon the absence
from genetic constitution of such genes as correspond to
characters that may take the form of serious defects
•Positive health implies that a person should be able to
express completely potentialities of his genetic heritage
•Needs healthy environment which can convert genotypic
potentialities into phenotypic realities

4. Behavioural & sociocultural
•Lifestyle means a way of living
•Reflects social values, attitudes,& activities
•Diseases like lung cancer, obesity, poor
nutrition
•Not all are harmful

5. Environment
•Can be internal & external
•External is all that is external to the individual
•Can be
Physical
Biological
Psychosocial

6. Socioeconomic conditions
Economic status: percapita GNP
•In some countries economic progress has
improved health status
•Determines purchasing power, standard of
living, family size, pattern of living
•Can also lead to diseases

7. Cont….
Education:
Map of illiteracy coincides with map of illhealth,
poverty, diseases
Classic example Kerala

8. Occupation
•Very fact that one is employed keeps one
healthy
•Loss of work leads to psychological & social
damage

9. Political system
•Resource allocation, manpower policy,
accessibility of health services have bearing on
health
•% GNP spent on health indicates political
commitment
•India spend 3% GNP
•Target of WHO is 5%

10. Health services
•For treatment , prevention, & promotion of health
•Basic aim to improve the health status
•Equally distributed, accessible, affordable,
acceptable

11. Aging population
•Increased dependable population
•Increased chronic diseases & disabilities
Gender
Gender issues lke voilence, reproductive health, nutrition