Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) have a big impact on individuals’ well-being, health, and equality of life. Therefore, it is important for healthcare professionals to have adequate knowledge regarding these SDOHs and use appropriate strategies, if possible, to modify them to help improve health outcomes and well being of the target population. The five domains of SDOH include social and community context, neighborhood and built environment, health care access and quality, education access and quality, and economic stability (Maness et al.,2020). An exploration of the community revealed various aspects of the five SDOHs. In reference to economic stability, three out of ten community members live in poverty and are unable to get adequate access to necessary health care. Up to 60% of the adult members have at least college education which has been reflected in 70% living above the poverty line. The community has an adequate amount of health centers allowing individuals to access patient care services, even though there is a percentage of the community who can not access adequate care due to poverty and lack of health insurance.
The neighborhood and built environment in reference to the community can be described as safe. There are low rates of violence, and the quality of air and water can be described as safe and with no safety risks. However, the rate of smoking in the neighborhood is considerably high, making the individuals exposed to second-hand smoke. In terms of social and community context, most of the families have close-knit relationships and positive relationships at home. The most affected groups are the children and pregnant women who are exposed to second-hand smoke. The major challenge found is the difficulty in exploring the economic conditions of the family members. I propose that smoking cessation programs and economic empowerment programs be initiatives to help lift up the economic status and exposure to second-hand smoke. One of the risk assessment instruments that can be used to assess the community is the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) which assesses employment, education, and income. Another instrument is the opportunity index. Health-related risks based on the community age groups include heart disease and potential drug and substance abuse among adolescents. Among the female population of reproductive age, one of the major risks is pregnancy complications and birth defects due to enhanced rates of smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke (Schuiling &Likis, 2020).
References
Maness, S. B., Merrell, L., Thompson, E. L., Griner, S. B., Kline, N., &Wheldon, C. (2021). Social determinants of health and health disparities: COVID-19 exposures and mortality among African American people in the United States. Public Health Reports, 136(1), 18–22. Doi: 10.1177/0033354920969169
Schuiling, K. D., &Likis, F. E. (2020). Gynecologic Health Care: With an Introduction to Prenatal and Postpartum Care: With an Introduction to Prenatal and Postpartum Care. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
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