Social Determinants of Health Essay

Social Determinants of Health Essay

Kenya is the focus country for the assignment. The three most common health issues are malaria, HIV, and Tuberculosis. Malaria is a healthcare issue of interest because it is a tropical disease (Kenya is a tropical country), and there are high transmission rates throughout the year. Kenya is also a high malaria burden country, a global concern. The disease is preventable and treatable, but the disease arises. Malaria and the social determinants of health affecting it are the focus of this essay.

HIV and Tuberculosis burdens are also high in Kenya, but governmental and non-governmental organizations in Kenya have been on the frontline in improving the diseases. The government and supporting bodies such as the CDC have pooled resources and efforts to manage the disease. They have created awareness and educated communities on the importance of sleeping under insecticide-treated nets. The government also provides pregnant and lactating mothers with ITNs, which has reduced the malaria burden (Enos et al., 2018). However, the malaria problem persists due to various issues.

Malaria is caused by the female anopheles’ mosquito, which thrives in the tropical region. There are more than 6.8 million cases in Kenya, and more than 4000 children die in Kenya each year (CDC, 2018). In addition, CDC (2018) states that there are more than 10,0000 deaths per year from malaria, and more than 70% of the Kenyan population is at risk for malaria. Research shows that malaria is unevenly distributed in Kenya, with hypo endemic, epidemic, and hyperepidemic areas, depending on the yearly transmission rates (Otambo et al., 2020). ­Kapesa et al. (2018) explain that most families in the affected areas, such as Homabay, cannot afford to purchase the nets to protect their families. A study by Essendi et al. (2019) revealed that the family’s income, parents’ education level, father’s occupation status, and location (rural or urban) are significant determinants of ITN utilization. A lack of education and finances are essential factors in determining the utilization of ITNs. Families living in poverty prioritize purchasing basic needs items such as ITNs. The individuals in rural areas, most affected by malaria, have lower rates of ITN use due to a lack of finances and education.

Conclusion

The lack of education and finances contributes significantly to underutilization, lack of ITN purchase, and poor malaria management. The uneven distribution of the malaria burden also necessitates attention to the specific high-burden areas. Educating these families in high-burden regions and providing them the insecticide-treated nets will thus manage the problem efficiently.

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References

Enos, M., Sitienei, J., Ong’ang’o, J., Mungai, B., Kamene, M., Wambugu, J., Kipruto, H., Manduku, V., Mburu, J., Nyaboke, D., Ngari, F., Omesa, E., Omale, N., Mwirigi, N., Okallo, G., Njoroge, J., Githiomi, M., Mwangi, M., Kirathe, D., and Weyenga, H. (2018). Kenya tuberculosis prevalence survey 2016: challenges and opportunities of ending TB in Kenya. PloS One, 13(12), e0209098. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209098

Kapesa, A., Kweka, E. J., Atieli, H., Afrane, Y. A., Kamugisha, E., Lee, M. C., Zhou, G., Githeko, A. K., & Yan, G. (2018). The current malaria morbidity and mortality in different transmission settings in Western Kenya. PloS One, 13(8), e0202031. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0202031

Essendi, W. M., Vardo-Zalik, A. M., Lo, E., Machani, M. G., Zhou, G., Githeko, A. K., Yan, G., & Afrane, Y. A. (2019). Epidemiological risk factors for clinical malaria infection in the highlands of Western Kenya. Malaria Journal, 18(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2845-4

Otambo, W. O., Omondi, C. J., Ochwedo, K. O., Onyango, P. O., Atieli, H., Lee, M. C., Wang, C. Zhou, G., Githeko, A. K., Githure, J., Ouma, C., Yan, G., & Kazura, J. (2022). Risk associations of submicroscopic malaria infection in lakeshore, plateau, and highland areas of Kisumu County in western Kenya. PloS One, 17(5), e0268463. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268463

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2018). Malaria. CDC Activities in Kenya. Accessed 16^th July 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/malaria

Email

From:

To: michael.john@gmail.com

Subject: Malaria and Social Determinants of Health

Hello Michael. I am trustuing you are well. This email aims to inform you about malaria in Kenya and the social determinants of health affecting its management. Social determinants of health are the conditions in which individuals live and work. These economic and social factors influence health status and disparities significantly. They include income and social status, employment status, working conditions, education, childhood experiences, social support, health behaviors, culture, race, and physical environment.

Malaria is a healthcare issue in Kenya. The country is in the warm equatorial region hence high transmission rates throughout the year. More than 76% of the population is exposed to malaria infection (CDC, 2018). The rates are also higher in rural regions than in urban areas. Researchers show that low education/literacy levels, employment status, and income levels are the essential social determinants concerning malaria (Gopal et al., 2019). Lack of education regarding malaria and its management prevents individual efforts in participating in preventing malaria. Information creates urgency and promotes healthy behavior, and its absence is detrimental.

Unemployment and low-income levels make it challenging to purchase interventions such as insecticide-treated nets, hence poor malaria control. These factors have significantly affected the efforts to manage malaria hence the need for their management (Otambo et al., 2022). Luckily, they can be managed by increased community education on malaria and by availing insecticide-treated nets to these families. Thus, these proposed efforts in managing malaria in these regions are thus integral.

 

 

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2018). Malaria. CDC Activities in Kenya. Accessed 16^th July 2022 from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/malaria

Gopal, S., Ma, Y., Xin, C., Pitts, J., & Were, L. (2019). Characterizing the spatial determinants and prevention of malaria in Kenya. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health, 16(24), 5078. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16245078

Otambo, W. O., Omondi, C. J., Ochwedo, K. O., Onyango, P. O., Atieli, H., Lee, M. C., Wang, C. Zhou, G., Githeko, A. K., Githure, J., Ouma, C., Yan, G., & Kazura, J. (2022). Risk associations of submicroscopic malaria infection in lakeshore, plateau, and highland areas of Kisumu County in western Kenya. PloS One, 17(5), e0268463. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268463

Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to increase your knowledge of the link between social determinants of health (SDOH) and a high priority health issue in the country chosen for the final paper and to share that information with another health care provider.
Overview
Several factors come together to create an individual’s health status. The conditions in which people are born, live, work, and age can be as influential in determining an individual’s health status as the quality of diagnosis and treatment. Health care professionals need to understand the influence of these underlying conditions to deliver the best health care possible. A good example of how these factors are intertwined is the Carter Center’s work in eradicating the guinea worm in Africa and Asia. To quote from the website:
When The Carter Center began leading the international campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease in 1986, there were an estimated 3.5 million cases in at least 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Today, that number has been reduced by more than 99.99 percent. In 2020, 27* human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide. Between January 1 and June 30 of 2021 five human cases have been reported. https://www.cartercenter.org
One of the major strategies used to reach this goal was teaching individuals to filter drinking water and to not go into water if infected. This was difficult for several reasons: (a) lack of health care practitioners in the largely rural area, (b) the insecurity in some areas related to conflict, and (c) cost of filtration equipment. The coordination of effort across several organizations led to the success.
The group of factors included in the SDOH are: (a) economic stability, (b) education access and quality, (c) social and community context, (d) health care access and quality, (e) neighborhood and built environment. Review the resources listed in the Instructional Materials for this module to learn more about the SDOH.
Instruction
The focus of this assignment is twofold: (a) to strengthen your understanding of the impact of at least one of the social determinants of health on a priority health issue in the country you have chosen as the focus for the final paper and (b) to share that understanding with another health care professional.
You will write a 300-to-350 word paper plus an email (200-250 words) that meet the following criteria:
The paper will contain an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. An appropriately formatted student paper title page must be included. See the relevant section of the APA Publication Manual, 7th ed.
Provide a short description of the country.
Identify the (2 or 3) health issues with the highest priority in the chosen country. Document these choices. Choose one as the focus for the rest of this document. Describe the global health indicators you are using to identify the priority health issue.
Identify the SDOH that has the most impact on the chosen health issue. Be sure to fully describe the SDOH and make the connection between it and the health issue very clear.
Include a minimum of three (3) references. One (1) reference must be a scholarly article. References must be no more than five (5) years old. There are no exceptions to this requirement. The Skolnik article may be used but does not count as one of the three references. For this one paper the list of references does not need to be on a separate page. For this one paper the list of references does not need to be on a separate page. List the references (using correct APA 7th edition format) after the body of the paper. See the format for the structure of this assignment in the Instructional Materials folder click here.
The email will begin two double spaces below the last reference for the body of the paper. Start the email with the date. Format the rest of the email as described in the instructions for this assignment.
Direct the email to any healthcare provider who is NOT a nurse. Make sure that the discipline of the healthcare provider is clear in the email. You do not know whether this healthcare provider is or is not aware of the SDOH literature; consequently, SDOH information must be provided without offending the healthcare professional.
Provide a brief description of the concept of SDOH.
Explain the link between the SDOH and the identified healthcare priority. It is possible that more than one of the SDOH categories will be applicable.
Support your choices with scholarly references. You must use a minimum of three (3) references. These references may be the same as those used in the body of the paper if they are clearly appropriate. Skolnik may be used but does not count as one of the three (3) references.
The length of the email is to be between 200 and 250 words.