1. Biological, behavioural and social and Physical Environment determinants of health

2. What are ‘determinants of health’?
Factors that influence health
Can increase the chance of ill health (risk factors) or good health (protective factors)
Determinants of health can act in combination
Determinant of health can be applied to an individual (e.g. you) or to a population (e.g. Australia)

3. Risk factors
Any factor representing a greater risk of a health disorder or other unwanted condition or event is known as a risk factor
Examples are:
low socioeconomic status, obesity
high blood
cholesterol
tobacco smoking.

4. Protective factor
Any factor that reduces the risk of a health disorder or other unwanted condition or event is known as a protective factor.
Examples
Regular physical activity
High fruit and vegetable intake
Preventative health care
Social networks

5. Determinants of health
The determinants of health have been categorised into four main groups:
Biological- genetic, biomedical
behavioural- actions or patterns of living
Social- aspects of society and social environment
Physical Environment- physical surroundings

6. Biological determinants of health Genetics, biomedical
Risk or protective factors that relate to the body and represent actual bodily states, for example:
Genetics-
blood pressure
blood cholesterol
body weight
impaired glucose regulation

7. Genetics
3 per cent of babies in Australia are born with a genetic disorder.
examples of genetic diseases whereby a mutation or abnormality in one of more genes or chromosomes results in a particular illness.
haemophilia, cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anaemia, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy and phenylketonuria
There is also genetic predisposition to some conditions such as diabetes and heart disease (family history)

8. Blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure.
It accounts for 8% of burden of disease in australia

9. blood cholesterol
High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and ischaemic stroke.
High blood cholesterol is estimated to cause around 6 per cent of the total burden of disease among Australians

10. Body weight
World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled obesity a global epidemic
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, certain cancers, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis, psychological disorders and social problems
7.6 per cent of the total burden of disease

11. Impaired glucose regulation
Is the metabolic state between normal regulation of glucose and failed regulation (Diabetes).
Common cause:
Overweight, obesity
High cholesterol
It affects One in 6 Australians over the age of 25

12. Behavioural determinants of health Attitudes, Beliefs, Lifestyle
Risk or protective factors that are based on behaviours or actions, for example:
tobacco smoking
physical activity
alcohol consumption
illicit drug use
dietary behaviour
sexual behaviour
vaccination
sun exposure

13. Alcohol consumption
Excessive alcohol use is responsible for about 3.2 per cent of the Victorian burden of disease, linked to increased rates of cancers, liver disease, pancreatitis, diabetes, stroke and epilepsy. It was responsible for 844 deaths in 2001, and years of life lost due to premature death. Alcohol dependence results in nearly 8000 years of healthy life lost due to disability (YLDs).
The biggest burden associated with alcohol is the range of injuries linked to excessive use: road traffic accidents, falls, drowning, burns, suicide and violence.

14. tobacco
Tobacco smoking is associated with the greatest disease burden – over 8 per cent of the total burden for Victoria. It was responsible for 3968 deaths in Victoria in 2001, with a total of years of life lost due to premature death.
tobacco-related deaths are from lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, other cancers and heart disease.

15. Social determinants of health
Risk or protective factors that are based on society and the social environment:
Influence involving contact with family, peers, members of school, workplace and community groups
socioeconomic status
stress
early life experiences- family income, chronic stress in early childhood linked to depression, anxiety, CVD
social exclusion
Work- sense of identity, income, work place injuries
unemployment
social support-can be emotional ( nurturing), tanglable (financial),information, companionship
addiction
food
transport

16. Social deterinmants
Socio economically disadvantage groups are more likely to engage in health damaging behaviour
less access to health care
More likely to engage in health damaging behaviours

17. Physical Environment Air, water and sanitation quality
Mould, carbon monoxide, asbestos passive smoking. A range of ailments relate to living or working in buildings with poor air quality- respiratory infections
Infrastructure- roads, recreational facilities, housing
Natural environment-heatwaves, bushfires, drought

18. Physical Environmental
Air pollution is linked with respiratory illnesses.
Some of the chemicals used in growing and processing foods are thought to be linked to allergies and illnesses, and possibly even to cancer.
Nuclear waste is an environmental health problem that seems to have no long-term solution.
Many industries use toxic chemicals or have hazardous work conditions that endanger workers’ health.
Noise levels in some work and recreation settings are so high that hearing is permanently damaged.
The hole in the ozone layer has increased over southern Australia, so that residents are exposed to greater levels of UV radiation and thus to higher levels of skin cancer.

19. Physical Environmental
Clearing of forests is believed by many to contribute to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and therefore to global warming.
Some of our buildings make us sick; for example, poorly maintained air conditioning systems are linked to legionnaire’s disease.
Some farming practices are unsustainable, contributing to reduced water quality and decreased amounts of land suitable for food production.
High levels of blue-green algae in lakes pose significant health threats for people swimming, boating or waterskiing.
In Australia, six mosquito-borne viruses are major public health threats: Murray Valley encephalitis, kunjin virus, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus.
Poor hygiene practices and unsafe storage of foods can result in major food poisoning outbreaks.