WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health
Topic 4 DQ 2
In the assigned article, “Attention to Local Health Burden and the Global Disparity of Health Research,” the authors discussed the lack of attention given to global health crisis research. What areas can the DNP address that will promote health in correlation with the WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health?
SAMPLE ANSWER
WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health
The World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health was launched in 2005 in an effort to close the health gap between rich and poor. The commission’s final report, issued in August 2008, proposed a “lifecourse approach” to health that takes into account the social and economic conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. The report also called for a more equitable distribution of resources within and between countries, as well as greater attention to the needs of marginalized groups. In 2010, the WHO released a set of policy briefs that elaborated on the recommendations of the commission’s report. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health is just one example of how the WHO is working to address health inequities around the world. It is clear that much more needs to be done, but the commission’s work provides a roadmap for how we can move forward.
What is the Commission on Social Determinants of Health?
The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) was an expert body set up by the World Health Organization in 2005. Its aim was to close the gap in health inequalities within and between countries.
The CSDH produced a final report with recommendations in August 2008, calling for action on social determinants at national and global levels. The Commission’s work is widely recognized as providing the impetus for a renewed focus on social determinants of health and health equity within WHO and across the United Nations system.
The CSDH’s final report identified four key areas for action:
– Addressing the structural drivers of poor health
– Harnessing the power of evidence, knowledge and information
– Redesigning services and care to take account of social determinants
– Creating more supportive environments for healthy living.
What are social determinants of health?
The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. These conditions are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national, and local levels.
The social determinants of health are largely responsible for health inequities – the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries. Inequities in health arise because of the circumstances into which people are born, grow, live, work and age. They are also shaped by gender, ethnicity, culture and religion.
There is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates that improving the social determinants of health can lead to better population health outcomes and help reduce health inequities. For example, interventions aimed at reducing income inequality have been shown to be effective in improving population health.
WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health was established in 2005 to help close the gap in a generation between the “haves” and “have nots” in terms of health. The Commission put forward a set of recommendations to governments on how to tackle the social determinants of health through action on key areas such as early childhood development, education, employment and working conditions.
The commission’s goals
The commission’s goals are to identify and address the social determinants of health, which are the structural drivers of poor health outcomes. The commission will also work to promote health equity by ensuring that all people have a fair and just opportunity to be healthy.
The commission’s report
The Commission on Social Determinants of Health was an expert body set up by the World Health Organization in 2005. Its final report, released in August 2008, contained a number of recommendations for action at global, regional and national levels to reduce health inequalities.
The commission’s report noted that health inequalities are a major challenge for public health and urged action to address them. It found that social determinants such as poverty, poor housing and working conditions, and unequal access to education, healthcare and other services are the main drivers of health inequalities.
The report called for a coordinated effort to tackle the social determinants of health, with WHO playing a leading role. It also recommended that all countries should collect data on health inequalities and develop policies to reduce them.
The commission’s recommendations
The commission’s recommendations were based on a review of the existing evidence on social determinants of health and health equity. The recommendations focused on four areas: (1) improving data and measurement; (2) strengthening policies and programmes to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health; (3) addressing the social determinants of non-communicable diseases; and (4) scaling up action on the social determinants of health.
Conclusion
The Commission on Social Determinants of Health was a welcome initiative by the WHO, and its final report is essential reading for anyone interested in health equity. The report highlights the social determinants of health and makes a number of recommendations for action at global, regional and national levels. It is now up to policy-makers to take these recommendations forward and ensure that they are translated into concrete actions which will improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
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