Social Determinants of Health
A Comparative Approach
Published on 18. September 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-0-19-900540-6 (ISBN)
Description
Social Determinants of Health: A Comparative Approach introduces the various elements that determine the health of individuals in their communities. The text takes a macro-level approach, focusing on population health rather than strictly on individual health. Social Determinants of Health focuses on "Anglo-American" countries-Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia-examining the commonalities and differences socially, economically, and politically.
The text begins by outlining the background, theory, and evidence for a population health perspective. This is followed by discussion of environmental factors, such as employment, housing, and diet, and social factors such as gender, support and well-being, and being an Aboriginal person. The text concludes with an overview of the social patterning of health-relevant behaviour and the politics of health-related policy. Written in an accessible manner, Social Determinants of Health
further engages students by offering case studies and "Pause and Reflect" boxes, as well as end-of-chapter questions, suggested readings, and websites.
The text begins by outlining the background, theory, and evidence for a population health perspective. This is followed by discussion of environmental factors, such as employment, housing, and diet, and social factors such as gender, support and well-being, and being an Aboriginal person. The text concludes with an overview of the social patterning of health-relevant behaviour and the politics of health-related policy. Written in an accessible manner, Social Determinants of Health
further engages students by offering case studies and "Pause and Reflect" boxes, as well as end-of-chapter questions, suggested readings, and websites.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
35 tables; 54 figures
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 180 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
484 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-900540-6 (9780199005406)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Alan Davidson is an associate professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. He has served as the dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Development at Okanagan University College, director of the Population and Health Services Research Centre, and director of Health Services for the Yukon government.
Content
PREFACE ; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ; INTRODUCTION: THE CONVENTIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF HEALTH AND ITS ALTERNATIVE ; HOW WE UNDERSTAND THREATS TO OUR HEALTH ; A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON OUR HEALTH: RISE OF AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW ; HEALTH INEQUALITIES ; THE BASIS OF HEALTH INEQUALITIES ; WHAT LIES AHEAD ; 1. THINKING ABOUT INDIVIDUAL AND POPULATION HEALTH ; SYNOPSIS ; LEVELS OF ANALYSIS ; INDIVIDUAL LEVEL ANALYSIS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE ; ORIGINS OF POPULATION HEALTH ; SOME NOTES ON TERMS ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 2. POPULATION HEALTH AND SOCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY ; SYNOPSIS ; THE EMERGENCE OF THE FIELD "SOCIAL EPIDEMIOLOGY" ; GEOFFREY ROSE AND THE POPULATION HEALTH PERSPECTIVE ; THE IMPACT OF RECENT STUDIES ON THINKING ABOUT HEALTH ; THE GRADIENT IN HEALTH ; THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF THEORY ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 3. INCOME, INEQUALITY, AND HEALTH ; SYNOPSIS ; THE GRADIENT IN HEALTH ; UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INCOME AND HEALTH ; THE INEQUALITY HYPOTHESIS UNDER ASSAULT ; WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THE LITERATURE ON INEQUALITY AND HEALTH? ; THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING MATERIALIST ARGUMENTS SEPARATE FROM ONES ABOUT HIERARCHY AND ; CONTROL ; INCOME AND INCOME DISTRIBUTION ; PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ; POVERTY AND ITS MITIGATION ; LOWER TAXES OR MORE PUBLIC SPENDING? ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 4. CHILDHOOD AND THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD ; SYNOPSIS ; EARLY CHILDHOOD ; ANIMAL STUDIES ; CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PSYCHOLOGY ; EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY ; A NOTE ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM ; OLDER CHILDREN AND TEENS ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 5. SOCIAL SUPPORT, SOCIAL CAPITAL, AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION ; SYNOPSIS ; SOCIAL NORMS, PREDICTABILITY, AND HUMAN HEALTH ; SOCIAL NETWORKS ; SOCIAL SUPPORT AND HEALTH ; SOCIAL COHESION ; SOCIAL CAPITAL ; SENSE OF COMMUNITY BELONGING ; SOCIAL EXCLUSION ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 6. HEALTH OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES ; SYNOPSIS ; WHO ARE THE ABORIGINAL PEOPLES? ; THE HEALTH OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES ; UNDERSTANDING THE DETERMINANTS OF ABORIGINAL HEALTH ; A STORY OF DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 7. GENDER AND HEALTH ; SYNOPSIS ; THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND MEN ; THE EFFECTS OF MARRIAGE ON HEALTH ; DISTRESS AMONG WOMEN ; GENDER EQUITY ; EDUCATION AND THE HEALTH OF WOMEN AND THEIR COMMUNITIES ; GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 8. EMPLOYMENT, WORKING CONDITIONS, AND HEALTH ; SYNOPSIS ; THE CENTRALITY OF EMPLOYMENT TO ADULT HEALTH ; HEALTH AND JOBS ; UNEMPLOYMENT AND HEALTH ; CHANGES IN THE NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT ; WORKING CONDITIONS AND HEALTH ; POLICIES AFFECTING EMPLOYMENT, EARNINGS, JOB BENEFITS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 9. HOUSING AND NEIGHBOURHOOD ; SYNOPSIS ; HOMES AND HEALTH ; NEIGHBOURHOOD AND HEALTH ; URBAN DESIGN, THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ; HOUSING POLICY AND HEALTH ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 10. FOOD, FOOD INSECURITY, OBESITY, AND NUTRITION ; SYNOPSIS ; DIET AND THE HEALTH OF POPULATIONS ; WHAT IS A HEALTHY DIET? THE CANADA FOOD GUIDE ; THE RELATIVE COST OF HEALTHY FOODS ; OBESITY ; DIET AND HEALTH ; POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 11. SOCIAL PATTERNING OF BEHAVIOUR ; SYNOPSIS ; HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND ITS CONTEXT ; HEALTHY LIFESTYLES ; THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS ; SUMMARY ; CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; 12. THE POLITICS OF POPULATION HEALTH ; MODELS OF HEALTH ; GLOBALIZATION AND HUMAN HEALTH ; POPULATION HEALTH AND POLITICS ; ANNOTATED SUGGESTED READINGS ; ANNOTATED WEBSITES ; GLOSSARY ; REFERENCES ; INDEX