SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH i

Social Determinants of Health, Infant Mortality Rates and Life Expectancy

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SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ii

Contents
I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
II. Social Determinants of Health ............................................................................................. 1
A. Objective Written Examinations .....................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
III. Infant Mortality Rate............................................................................................................ 2
A. Walking Around ..............................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
IV. Life Expectancy ................................................................................................................... 3
Social Determinants of Health 1

I. Introduction
With the advent of modern technology, life expectancy is supposed to increase. We now

have the machinery, tools and knowledge to aid the medical world in this endeavor. Medical

knowledge required to heal any illness or condition is readily available to any doctor across the

globe. Lectures and courses are standardized to ensure that all doctors are equipped with the

latest advancement in medical science. Thus, it begs the question, ‘Why does life expectancy

vary from one nation to another?’

Taking genetics, congenital defects and inherited aberrations into consideration, life

expectancy shouldn’t deviate too far from the mean life expectancy. This means that something

else is affecting life expectancy as well as infant mortality rates. According to WHO, social

determinants play a key role in life expectancy.

II. Social Determinants of Health

A. Definition
These are conditions that influence health outcomes outside of inherent genetic properties

of the individual. This includes condition affecting a person’s birth, growth, work environment

and age. Social determinants also include the existing health system of the country in which a

person is born to. The allocation of money, power and vital resources within local, international

or global levels also influence not only a person’s health, but the existing health system available

to an individual.

Social determinants are considered as the primary cause for health inequities around the

world. This gives certain societies an unfair advantage or disadvantage with others, which causes

variance in life expectancy rates and infant mortality rates.

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B. Different Social Determinants

Social determinants which concretely affect individuals in the United States include

transportation options, public safety, social support, language, literacy, and access to economic,

educational and job opportunities. It includes social institutions such as the presence of absence

of local law enforcement in a community, and governmental and non-governmental

establishments. This is because the policies enacted by the government, corporate sectors and

non-government institutions can directly impact the health of citizens as well as their health

behavior in both a negative and positive way.

Institutionalized patterns that are present in local sectors such as racial segregation of

residences can also affect health patterns, without the community implementing such measures.

In certain places in the US, the pattern of having pure black or Hispanic neighborhoods may lead

to off-springs and children to have decreased life chances, as well as fewer opportunities to live a

healthy lifestyle.

Community health can be improve or diminish because of the immediate environment. A

positive environment such as improved lighting, benches and trees can uplift community health.

However, negative elements such as graffiti and increased impoverished areas can also have a

degrading impact in people’s health and psyche.

III. Infant Mortality Rate

A. Definition
Infant Mortality is defined as a child dying with a year of birth. This rating is cause for

concern because it deprives the society of potential social, physical and human capital.

B. Infant Mortality Rate in the United States

Although the infant mortality rates in the US is significantly higher than in other

developed countries, it still remains that this rate has decreased over the last two centuries. In
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1850 the United States’ infant mortality rate was at 216.8 for every 1000 babies, which has

decreased significantly in the 21st century. Within the last century alone, the infant mortality rate

has decreased by 93 percent.

The leading cause of infant mortality in the US is due to premature delivery, congenital

anomalies, sudden infant death syndrome and maternal complications. Infants born with low

birth weight lead to an increase 8.1% in infant mortality rates. The main reason for the high

infant mortality rate is preterm deliveries, as noted by the New York times, increased by 10%

from year 2000 to year 2006.

IV. Life Expectancy

Studies from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council concluded that the

life expectancy of US citizens ranks close to the bottom of 17 most affluent countries in the

world. This is because the US is said to be near bottom of the 9 key factors of health such as

infant mortality, low birth weight, homicides, teenage pregnancies, injuries, STD, drug-caused

deaths, obesity, heart diseases, chronic lung disease, diabetes and disability.

Reports estimated the life expectancy for men in the US is at 75.6 years, and women at

80.8 years. These statistics are lower than that of Canada and Japan, and is lower by almost four

years in comparison to Switzerland’s life expectancy.

V. Conclusion
Monitoring the life expectancy and Infant Mortality rates of any given nation is

important. Even if Medical Science constantly evolves to try to improve life expectancy, that’s

just one half of the coin. It is important to monitor social determinants and improve it to ensure

that life expectancy will improve as well.

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References

CSDH (2008) Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social
determinants of health. Final Report of the Commission on Social Determinants of
Health. Geneva, World Health Organization. Retrieved from
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241563703_eng.pdf

Matsuoka, M. (2003). Building Healty Communities from the ground up: environmental justice
in California. Retrieved from http://www.cbecal.org/pdf/healthy-communities.pdf.