Current Events in Public Health #4: Determinants

Readings

Topic 1  Is exercise or medication better for depression? Experts weigh in

If you choose this article, reasearch the determinants for depression

Topic 2:  A ‘wake-up call’ about what’s killing America’s young people

If you choose this article, research either overdose deaths, motor vehicle deaths or gun deaths in the US.

Topic 3:  Cancer incidence rising among adults under 50, new report says, leaving doctors searching for answers 

If you choose this article, pick a cancer type to tell us about its determinants.

Assignment Steps

1. Choose one of the topics above that interests you and read it.

2. Read it and write a 3-5 sentence summary. DO NOT DO MORE THAN 5 SENTANCES.

3. According to your article, what is the biggest contributing determinate? Tell us about this PRIMARY determinant using the yellow highlighted categories then give an example.

Policy

Biology and genetics

Individual behavior

4.Now search:  “(topic of your article) and social determinants (SDoH) ” and find a SDoH about your issue.  For example, I searched “SIDS and social determinants” . The report which social factor (SDoH) is the primary SDoH. You can name two.

Socioeconomic status (SES)

Community/Home

Education

Environment

• Racial Imbalance
• 5.  Create a simple determinant statement by filling out the below.
• Determinant:  category: example SDoH: explain 

See my example!

6. Personal reflection. Tell us how you feel about this or some personal experience with the issue.

• 6. For the bibliography, cite the article you read (pretty easy since I have it right there!) and then you must have at least one and not more than two more sources.
• Example
• I read an article about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and its determinants. The article cites many contributing factors including genetics (polymorphism), biology (infection, gender: boys > girls) and the environment (heavy blankets and soft mattresses) to all contribute to SIDS. Sadly, but importantly, the biggest determinant was a BEHAVIOR, or putting to kids to sleep on their stomachs (or rolling to the stomach). This position was 37x more likely to contribute to SIDS (1)
• An SDoH of SIDS is that lower socioeconomic and lower education status also increase SIDS.(1,2)
• Sadly, both low education and low income increase SIDS. If you consider some parents with lower socioeconomic status lack prenatal care or baby books,  it may mean that those moms are not taught to avoid the behavior of putting baby to sleep on the tummy AND if a lower SES family doesn’t have the money to get new harder mattresses, the cycle of SIDS may continue to be higher in these populations. These populations have multiple chances to have the risks and behaviors determined to increase SIDS. I am glad I had the resources to help me lower the risk of SIDS for my babies.

Determinant Statement: Behavior: Putting baby to sleep on the back SDoH: lower SES and education

1.The factors contributing to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome – PMC (nih.gov)

2.What causes SIDS? Genetics study suggests it’s more than unsafe sleep (usatoday.com)