PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment 1

PNSG 111 Health Promotion

Individual Health Determinants Assignment – (30% of final grade)
“Many factors combine together to affect the health of individuals and communities. Whether people are healthy or not, is determined by their
circumstances and environment. To a large extent, factors such as where we live, the state of our environment, genetics, our income and
education level, and our relationships with friends and family all have considerable impacts on health, whereas the more commonly considered
factors such as access and use of health care services often have less of an impact.”

World Health Organization (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/

You will have had in class practice applying the Health Determinants to population health. In this assignment you will apply the 12 Health
Determinants reflecting on your own health and wellness using the table provided. Each Health Determinant is graded out of 5 marks for a
total of 60 marks. Feel free to make the boxes in the table larger in order to adequately answer the criteria. Bullet format preferred.

 Description (1 mark each): Describe your understanding how this determinant may affect overall health
 Strengths/Assets (1 mark each): What are your individual strengths related to this determinant that positively affect your overall health
 Risk Factors (1 mark each): What are your individual risk factors related to this determinant that negatively affect your overall health
 Health Promotion Strategies (2 marks): List 2 health promotion strategies that either maintain or improve your overall health

In addition, you will answer 2 short answer questions worth 5 marks each. See below.
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment
Description
(1 mark)
1. Income & social status
Income and social status as
discussed is the most important.
This part is essential because having
it gives us the power choose things
that will lead us to have a better
health. Lack of income or financial
stability automatically equals a
negative effect on all dimensions of
health. People or family is left with
no choice but provide for their basic
needs (food, water, sleep, etc.) and
sometimes those basic things are not
necessarily healthy as they take
other determinants such as housing
(environment), health services
(medicines), etc. into consideration
as well. That will leave them with
constant worrying (stressors) since
they are not able to suffice all basic
needs which may lead to bad coping
mechanism and poor mental state.
2. Social Support networks
Social support networks refer to
friends, families, and community.
They affect health as people need
emotional support from other
people, advices to improve health,
and genuine interactions to lessen
stress.
Strengths/Assets
(1 mark)
Living in the same roof as my
parents has it perks. We’re only four
in the family and both my parents
has stable job. Both my sister and I
work part time as well to suffice our
personal needs. With that reason, I
am privilege enough to be able to
eat nutritional food, and gain basic
needs such as transportation,
housing, hygienic products, health
needs, etc. Overall, I do not stress
about any financial billing related to
gaining optimal health since my
parents help with my needs.
I have a good relationship with
family and, I am surrounded with
friends that I feel like affect or
influence me in a good way. They
help me cope when things get too
stressful and overwhelming, provide
me with advice in terms of my
health, and give me assurance that
they are always there. Therefore, my
social support network helps me
Risk Factors/health inequity
(1 mark)
I may have problem when I will
begin to become independent since
all my needs has to be on me. Also,
even though we have stable income
we do not have unlimited money.
Like some organic foods are on the
expensive side so we tend to avoid
them even if they’re probably the
most beneficial. In addition, we’re
able to comprise are health needs
only because so far, we have not
experienced any major health
situation (being diagnosed with
diseases, or any sort of that). If that
case happens, we’re most likely to
experience financial issues.
Since my family and friends act as
my social support network. I too
will have to be the same for them.
Sometimes when things get too
overwhelming and one of my family
or friends are also needed support
that can be one of my stressors. It
gets too much for me to handle.
When things get out of control, I
cannot mentally help someone to
2
Health Promotion Strategies
(2 marks)
Also prioritize basic needs over any
thing. For example, buy nutritional
food or buy food instead of buying
another clothing item that is not
needed.
Ps; only because I am able to
prioritize basic needs.
Budget or create emergency funds
incase a major health situation
occurs.
A strong support network mainly
affects the overall health, positively.
Therefore, maintaining the good
relationship with friends and family
is essential. The key for that is
communication. Communicating not
only in a way of talking problems
out but even if simply checking up
on them or keeping in touch. It
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment 3

have a good mental well-being
which also helps with my whole
health as being clear of stress is
beneficial to the systems of the
body.
cope since I have myself to be dealt
with. Overall, instead of positively
affecting my mental state it becomes
worse and may even lead me to
cope badly like stress snacking, etc.
helps bring a strong foundation
between you and your friends and
family.
Also, networking or making friends
may be hard for me, but they help
build a social support network.

3. Education & Literacy
This aspect affects health because
they provide people with knowledge
on how things such as food,
medicine, exercises, etc. work on
our body to better understand health
and improve it.
Also, having an education and
literacy provide more financial
security as it gives higher chance of
employment, and as discussed
previously being financial stable has
its privilege to gain optimal health.
4. Employment & working
conditions
Being unemployed usually causes
I was able to obtain my high school
diploma, and now I am in the
process of obtaining a post-
secondary diploma and hopefully a
degree after. With that reason, a lot
jobs are open with the certification I
currently have. Therefore, I have a
higher chance of gaining
employment. Taking up a course or
learning something around medicine
really helps with health literacy as
well since often the systems of the
body is talked about.
I currently work as a part time at a
fast food chain. My work has
discussed prior to start all of the
Even though I am studying Ask questions about prescribe
something around medicine and it medicine and or any nutritional
definitely has its benefits. I will suggestion that is given to you by a
admit that I still have very little health care provider.
knowledge about how the human
body work and that affects how I Discuss or gain resources about the
deal with my own body and health. important aspect of obtaining
education in terms of surviving in
Also, some or at least most higher society or how to obtain area of
paying or higher pay than average education/specialty I desire.
job requires some kind of specialty Ps; only because I have the means to
diploma or a degree. Though, I am gain education
still in the process of obtaining that,
there’s still the fact that future is
uncertain and my goal may not be
reached. Therefore, if I happen to
stay with my high school diploma I
may have a hard time gaining
employment that will suffice basic
needs since the average for a
monthly budget seems to be going
higher. Overwork and having no
time to take care of health may
result from this reason.
Work hazards are sometimes Follow preventative measures that
inevitable. Since my job deals with the store or chain requires workers
people or focuses around people, to do, such as wearing PPE and
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment
constant stress as it gives no
financial security, and as discussed
long time stress affects all
dimensions of health. Also, poor
working conditions may lead to
injuries, and other health conditions.
Overworking also contributes to
physical and mental exhaustion.
5. Physical environments
Physical environments refer to
physical things surrounding the
person. Things such as houses,
climate, air quality, transportation,
etc. These things affect overall
health since having good housing,
climate, air quality, transportation
and other things are better for the
health. Poor air quality may
contribute to lung diseases and other
health conditions. Lack of housing
increases the risk of infections, and
other health issues. Poor climate or
current climate status cause by
global warming causes changes to
our body system mostly negatively.
And lack of transportation or long
duration of transportation leads us
being exposed to crowds of people,
climate changes, sometimes poor air
quality, etc.
work hazards, work rights, other
important pieces related to working
conditions and employment. The
discussion included possible
situations with the hints mentioned
above and how to dealt with them.
Therefore, I feel safe working most
of the time and I think that my
health is being valued at my work
environment.
I live in a pretty decent apartment
therefore I am well protected from
extreme climates or weather, poor
air quality, highly infectious
diseases, etc that may happen
outside since I have the means or
choice to stay under a roof if those
things occur to protect myself. Also
both my parents drives, and most of
the time they drive me around
except for school since I haven’t
had the chance to get my license.
For that reason, I am well protected
If I choose to travel or go
somewhere like the supermarket if
again the things mentioned above
occurs.
and working with others that posed
great to my health since the risk of
getting infectious diseases like
covid 19 increases because of all the
interactions I have in day. Also,
sometimes the store is understaffed
so multitasking under stress very
seriously of the high volume of
customer gets too overwhelming
and in exchange physical and
mental exhaustion occurs.
For school I have to take the public
transportation, as I mentioned, since
both my parents does not aligned
with my school schedule. Most of
the time when I take the public bus
it is packed with people, and that
increases the risk of me contracting
highly infectious diseases. Also in
some cases I have to walk and the
weather outside is not always great
because of the extreme
temperatures.
4
properly distancing.
Avoid overworking and always
discuss matter about improper
working conditions or situations to
supervisors so that it will avoidable.
Always take measures to prevent
such diseases like washing my hand,
carrying ABHS, wearing a mask,
and other preventative measures.
Wear more appropriate clothing to
cope with the extreme temperatures
and also try to decrease my carbon
emission to help the environment
and our planet.
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment
6. Biology & genetic endowment
Biology and genetic endowment
refer to heredity and composition of
our body. This aspect affects health
as genetic plays a big part on
deciding whether a person is
susceptible to this kind of disease or
conditions. It also contributes to
how our body reacts or react with
things (medicine, metabolism, etc.)
7. Individual health practices and
coping
Individual health practices and
coping refers to a person’s own
choices and coping skill for own
self-care. This affect health as some
practices or coping skill may be
beneficial or negatively impact the
health. And of course, other health
determinants such income and
social status, social network,
physical environment, etc. take a
part in choosing health practices and
coping skill.
History of any health advantages
related to my genetics are still
unknown, therefore, I am not able to
pinpoint any benefits I have from
my heredity. Though I know some
of the conditions that my family
experienced or died from such as
cancer, diabetes, goiter (I’m not sure
of the root but my grandma and aunt
both had them), etc. I would say
knowing that I am high risk for
some medical conditions positively
affect me as I can prepare myself to
maybe avoid it if possible or learn
how to deal with it if it happens to
be inevitable.
Keeping the other health
determinants in mind I am able to
choose or tend to lean forward
towards more of the positive coping
mechanism skills and health
practices such as taking a walk,
watching shows I enjoy, journaling,
playing sports I enjoy, and reading a
book.
5
Health risk factor obviously comes Properly taking care of my physical
from the history of medical health so that I can avoid such
conditions that my family has since conditions.
I am most likely to also be
diagnosed with them. Some of those Researching about the conditions so
conditions are extremely damaging that I can be prepared in the future,
to health or hard to restore such as or maybe even help me think of
cancer. ways to reduce the severity.
Even with having a choice Seeking help such as counseling or
sometimes stress in combination of any psychological therapy.
sadness, insecurities, or any
negative emotions limits my ability Purchasing or getting used to always
to cope positively. Basically since I eat healthy alternative snacks.
am carrying too much I will not
have the energy to get up my bed, to
read, or to do any sort of activities
because there’s a lot going on my
mind. Negative coping practices I
follow when such situations occur
include binge eating unhealthy
snacks, spending a long time on
screens, and failing to address my
problems.
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment
8. Healthy child development
Healthy child development refers to
the nutritional or health care
received during childhood up until
now. This aspect is important as
health choices made during
childhood affects how our body
reacts or work. A good upbringing
leads towards more healthy
lifestyles as people are more aware
of healthy choices since they were
taught and again, they make body
systems work better.
9. Health services
Health services refers to the
person’s ability to access services
regarding health issues. This aspect
affects health as they help prevent
or fix any health malfunction in any
dimension. The faster access you
have the better chance of gaining
optimal health.
When I was growing up my family
lived with my grandparents since
my mom had to work abroad for a
while. I was able to gain proper
nutrition and health practices. Also I
experience a good upbringing as a
child because my grandparents
helped my parents and I closely
grew relationship with them and my
cousins. Obtaining those is
beneficial to me now because body
systems start to build resistance
during our childhood. Not only that,
my relationship with food is also
better for that reason.
I live near a community health
centre less than a 5 minute drive,
also the hospital is not too long of a
drive either, and a pharmacy of a
walking distance. I am still under
my parents technically so benefit
from their work’s health benefits. I
also benefit from the “free health
care system” offered in he country. I
am aware of the fact that the term
free may be debatable and some
group of people may not even have
the access to the known free heath
care, but from my experiences so far
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The risk factor I faced as a child Continue acquiring proper nutrition
was mainly because of the climate or copy nutritional techniques from
in the country or town I grew up in. childhood to maintain health.
Flooding are frequent and most of
the time every road is filled with Be up to date of what kind of care I
water therefore school were often received as a child including
cancelled during rainy season and vaccines.
walking in flood which is hardly
avoidable is unsanitary. Also
summer are extremely hot and
humid therefore as a kid we would
get sunburns and headaches from
the heat.
Risk factors include that if I will Avoid the need to access health care
experience a major health crisis in by properly taking care of the body.
the future, the help that I need will
most likely to get posted because of Planning or creating emergency
the other people needing help or funds incase a major health crisis
lack of services available which occurs so that seeking professional
may increases the severity of the help will be faster.
crisis. Going abroad to et a more
professional help is also hard or
maybe even impossible for me as it
requires a lot of money.
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment
10. Gender
Gender refers to comparison or
social expectations of a certain
gender. This affects the health since
the social expectations may occur in
a health setting. Also, gender affects
things such as employment, social
network, and other health
determinants.
11. Culture
Culture refers to the customs,
traditions, and community of an
individual. Culture is a very
important aspect in a person as it
affects how they behave, interact,
dress, values, morals, nutrition
(food, alternative medicines,), etc.
These things affect the health and
mostly the use of health services.
I mostly see it positive light as
someone who grew up in a third
world country where even a basic
health care is not free and
expensive.
History of violences and abuse gave
the society the perspective that
women are vulnerable. The reason
for this expectation is sad but It does
serve some benefits as we get
special care, support, and respect
from people including health care
providers.
I grew up in a country where I
would say is rich in culture as a
result of colonialism. As an example
of health advantages the ethnic or
our own traditional food that we
grew up eating up until now
contains multiple nutritional value.
Festivals are also very famous and
are often celebrated in the my home
country and even here within the
small community of Filipinos. The
festive and the party positively
affects me in terms of mental and
emotional health sometimes even
physical as it involves a lot of
dancing. Also my country or our
Risk factors includes the inequality
between genders. Some jobs has
higher chances of hiring less women
which affects my employment. Also
the study of gender pay gap where
women are generally paid less.
(Source: canadianwomen.org)
Lastly, the sexism that may occur in
everyday life.
Calamities and catastrophes are
famous in our country thus my
people including me grew up very
resilient. I think that definitely plays
a part in how I behave. I always
have this mindset that I am okay and
it is probably “not a big deal”, this
affects how often I seek help or
care. I am aware of this and trying
to work on it but again if it
something you grew up it is hard to
reverse.
7
Properly researching about
inequalities and advocating about it
to inform and reverse society’s
expectation or perspective about a
certain gender.
Stepping up or standing for myself
whenever I feel like I am at a
disadvantage because of my gender.
Recognize any part of my culture
that affects how I take care of my
body and fix them if they affect me
negatively.
My culture is always going to be
there but living in another country
the customs and traditions become
more and more nonexistent
therefore I have to be open outside
my culture and learn to cope
without them.
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment 8

culture is highly religious which is

12. Social environments
Social environments refer to a
bigger community(neighbors)
outside of the friends and families.
Similar to social support network
they affect health because they’re
able to give advices, emotional
support, and promote health by
group activities set out in the
community, or even just socializing
around community.
evident even in our current laws and
that definitely helps me spiritually.
I live in an apartment and my
community is mostly peaceful by
that I mean violence around
neighborhood is not prevalent or
anything. Again, us Filipinos have
small community within Kelowna
where festive or activities are
planned which makes me like home,
get me moving, and even feel
connection with other people.The
community also helps with
providing others with important
resources.
One of the risk factor I face daily is
smoking. Most of the people that
reside in the same apartment I find
are smokers. I do not see any
designated smoking areas so some
would even smoke in their decks,
With that reason, the risk of me
acquiring some kind of lung disease
increases.
Keep participating and be involved
in the activities my small
community puts out.
I keep my mask on outside and also
avoid or stay far away from people
who I often see smoke therefore I
know sort of their smoke schedule.

Short answer: (total 10 marks)

1. What Health Determinant do you feel is your strongest and why? What dimension of health can you link it to? Explain. (5 marks)

The strongest health determinant I feel is my strongest is income and status. By that, I do not mean that I am financially well and able to do
whatever I want with money. It is my strongest because being financially stable with the help of my family influenced the other health
determinants and gained me a positive effect concerning my health. I was able to get proper nutrition as a child, get proper housing in a place
with proper environment, I gained education, I have health access, I have employment, and many other privileges all because of income and
status. The five dimensions of health include physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, or intellectual, and social. Being healthy means all
dimensions must be positive. Income and status can be linked to all the dimensions of health because they are also interconnected or influence
each other. Since I have proper nutrition and have time to do some physical exercises, I would say I am physically well. Being physically well
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment 9

positively affects my mental health, and in relation to that I can control or also have good emotional health. I have good relationships with
people around me aka my social health because again I am mentally and emotionally capable of interacting with people well. I am not
extremely religious, but I grew up catholic and still believe that someone is beyond us, having four aspects positive makes me grateful and help
not neglect my spiritual being. Income and status or having financial stability helps me holistic healthy as all dimensions of health are met
positively. Lack of financial stability may cause improper diet since healthy food plus vitamins are expensive, having to worry about financial
problems may cause mental health issues such as prolonged stress and unhealthy coping mechanism (substance abuse), being mentally unstable
take a toll of course emotionally and being emotionally unavailable may lessen social interactions or lose social environment. Lastly if spiritual
since all the things are piled up, they may neglect that part of themselves. In conclusion, income and status are essential in terms of gaining
holistic health as it links to all dimensions of health

2. Using 1 of the Health Promotion strategies listed in your table. Explain which Health Promotion Strategy (5 strategies according to the
Ottawa Charter) it is linked to and why. (5 marks)

One of my health strategies is: ask questions about prescribed medicine and or any nutritional suggestion that is given to you by a health care
provider. This one fell under the education and literacy part of my health determinants. One of the Ottawa charter health strategies includes
developing skills where the government should provide information, or education, or life skills to the community so that they can better
understand health. This is linked to my strategy because it was built upon the reason that I am unable to sometimes understand what I am
prescribed to or Nutrional suggestions they might give. The lack of understanding of medicines is also due to not having enough information
about the illness I am required medications for. This is linked to this specific strategy as this health promotion strategy from Ottawa charter was
supposed to focus on providing information about health diseases or other important health information. For this health promotion strategies, I
listed to be accomplished I must either look up information about the illness or medications I am associated with or advocate for more
accessible information, education, skills so that people including me will have knowledge about medications and proper Nutrional strategies
and their benefits.
PNSG111 Individual Health Determinants Assignment 10