DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIOUR

1. DEFINITION OF HEALTH

Health, wellness, and well-being have many definitions and interpretations. There is no consensus (agreement) about any definition of health. There is knowledge of how to attain (reach) a certain level of health, but health itself cannot be measured. The concepts of health, disease and illness, generally speaking, are amplified by the belief of a people. 

TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF HEALTH 

Traditionally health has been defined in terms of the presence or absence of disease. It can be  defined as a state of being well and using every power the individual possesses to the fullest extent. 

Health has also been defined either in terms of an adequate functional capacity which allows the individuals to carry out their duties and responsibilities, or in terms of a certain quality of life which enables individuals to live happily, successfully, fruitfully, and creatively. 

DEFINITION OF HEALTH BY WHO

According to World Health Organization (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. It is the condition of the body or mind and the degree to which it is free from illness, or the state of being well.

2. COMPONENTS OF HEALTH

Some of the components of Health are as follows;

1.Physical health: overall condition of a living organism at a given time.

2 Mental health: According to WHO, it is a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his/her own abilities, can cope with the normal stress of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his/her community. Mental Health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act

3. Social health: a complete state of an individual to maintain and ensure smooth process of meaningful interaction with other members of the community where he/ she lives.

4. Emotional Health: The quality of a person's health determines the person’s emotions. Emotional health also entails that individuals should be able to express their emotions devoid of chronic mood swings or mood instability 

5. Spiritual Health: A person’s belief in God, sense of value and his ability to exercise what he believes is right.

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 educational 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.

3. DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH

In 2003, the World Health Organisation suggested that the social determinants of health include;

1. Income and social status - Higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.

2. Education – Education plays an influential part in the lives of the impoverished. According to Mirowsky and Ross (2003), education determines other factors of livelihood like occupation and income that determines income, which determines health outcomes. Education is a major social determinant of health. Educational attainment is related to improved health outcomes, due to its effect on income, employment, and living conditions. Children born to more educated parents are less likely to die in infancy and more likely to have higher birth weights.

3. Physical environment – The environment is often cited as an important factor influencing the health status of individuals. Factors such as clean water and air, healthy workplaces, adequate housing and safe communities and roads all contribute to good health. 

4. Social support networks – Greater support from families, friends and communities is linked to better health. Culture - customs and traditions, and the beliefs of the family and community all affect health.

5. Genetics - inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses. Personal behaviour and coping skills – balanced eating, keeping active, smoking, drinking, and how we deal with life’s stresses and challenges all affect health.

6. Health services - Access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influences health

7. Gender - Men and women suffer from different types of diseases at different ages.

8. Race: This has to do with complexion (skill colour) or hair type. The white pay more attention to health than the the black. The black believe in traditional medicine than the white who attached preeminence to modern medicine