Gail Wilensky and David Satcher co-authored an interesting article in Health Affairs discussing the social determinants of health. Both served the past three years as commissioners on the World Health Organization's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health. A major purpose of the commission was to identify strategies that could improve health for people around the world as well as reduce the differences in health outcomes. While recognizing the need to improve the performance of the delivery system, they identified a more fundamental set of issues that need attention - the social determinants of health which include the effects of poverty, education, early childhood education, treatment of women, employment opportunities, and individual empowerment on humans' health status and life expectancy.
As we work at the community level to improve the health of our country, there is much to learn from this article. One suggested focus is on children since improving the conditions that shape early child development can improve opportunities for health throughout a lifetime. Many of the health problems we face today have their roots in early childhood. These include obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health problems. Interventions in early childhood could reduce the incidence and prevalence of these conditions or decrease their effects resulting in large payoffs for future health costs and improved health. Areas of intervention discussed included nutrition [during gestation and after delivery]; education; reducing substance abuse; and improving access to care.
Comments