The Family’s Health Status: The Social Determinants of Health

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Table of Contents

Age-appropriate Screenings for Each Family Member
Health Model
Family-Centered Health Promotion
References

The country’s high level of economic and demographic development does not guarantee its citizens equality in terms of health. Differentiation in the level of health is associated with genetic, behavioral, or infrastructural factors; despite their significance, it also reflects the socio-economic differentiation of society (Solberg, 2016). Thus, the concept of social determinants of health appears, which is the living conditions of people from birth to old age.

The first determinant of health, which affects the family, is associated with the quality of medicine. To be more specific, it is with poor education and awareness of the family in the field of treatment and the use of medicines. The main problem is that the family is prone to self-medication. This factor can lead to harmful consequences. This is because the use of drugs not prescribed by a doctor can lead either to a deterioration of health or to conceal the actual symptoms. Therefore, the incorrect use of antibiotics for colds can lead to poor health or increased resistance of the disease to treatment (Solberg, 2016).

Another problem is that the family rarely seeks medical help. Also, family members rarely undergo examinations. This is necessary in order to identify various diseases at different stages. In addition, the passage of examinations is essential in order to determine in advance the course of the development of diseases or even prevent them before they appear. Such avoidance of examinations, as in this family, can lead to the fact that the disease will be detected at a late stage when the treatment process will be complicated.

The second determinant of health that affects the family is the quality of food. The fact is that children often eat fast food and also do not follow a healthy diet. Thus, children have an overabundance of carcinogens. This brings to the feeling of saturation a rapid jump in the risk of developing cancer (Solberg, 2016). In addition, a diet that does not meet the norms of rational nutrition will be skewed towards simple carbohydrates and fats, which will lead to a lack of protein, vitamins, and minerals. At the same time, the body will experience a feeling of hunger much faster and more often than with the proper diet.

Age-appropriate Screenings for Each Family Member

For a girl and a boy, it is recommended to undergo an examination to identify the causes of frequent colds. Repeated respiratory diseases occur as a result of an unbalanced diet, violations of hygiene rules, complications of the course of chronic pathologies, stressful situations. SARS more than four times a year are often a sign of immune dysfunction. The causes of frequent viral infections include genetic predisposition, injuries, intoxication. People who often suffer from prolonged acute respiratory infections for a year should be examined by an immunologist (Crandall et al., 2020). To determine the complex indicator of the immune system, a laboratory examination is shown in a clinically safe period. It is mandatory to sow from the mucous membranes of the pharynx and from the nasal passages. They may need to be checked for atypical pathogens by PCR. Auxiliary studies include a clinical blood test, an immunogram test, and a general urinalysis. Medical diagnostics makes it possible to detect hidden inflammations, parasites, infections.

For parents, it is recommended to undergo a general examination. This is because they lead a reasonably healthy lifestyle. However, it is necessary to make sure that there are no chronic diseases. First of all, it is necessary to pass a clinical blood test. The most common research method will tell about inflammation in the body and the state of the blood. According to its indicators, it is possible to determine the presence of infection, hidden internal bleeding, anemia, oncology, and other diseases (Crandall et al., 2020). The second is definitely a general urinalysis. It helps to identify disorders of the kidneys or bladder and some systemic diseases — diabetes, hepatitis, intoxication after taking medications or toxic substances, metabolic diseases (Crandall et al., 2020). It is also essential to undergo an ECG. The state of the entire body depends on the work of the heart, of course. Even if nothing bothers the parents, they need to have an electrocardiogram every year. The study of the heart rhythm allows you to identify a violation of the heart, a tendency to myocardial infarction, and coronary heart disease.

Health Model

There are two main themes when it comes to considering the concept of health: stability and actualization. The first focuses on maintaining balance and equilibrium. The second one aims to highlight the relationship of body, mind, spirit, and environment and achievement of human capacity. The clinical model of health is distinguished by the absence of any signs and symptoms indicating patients’ health (Barnes et al., 2020). Therefore, noticeable signs and symptoms of the illness are due to active disease. That is why it is possible to describe one’s health as not sick or as relative freedom from disease. People affected by this model often do not seek preventive health services. They postpone going to the doctor until their state is worsen. This type of health model is the conventional model of the discipline of medicine, during which people are treated as physiological systems with interconnected functions (Barnes et al., 2020). This particular model is designed to combat diseases before the occurrence.

The clinical model is the most relevant to this particular family for several reasons. First of all, by analyzing the overall health behavior of the family, it can be noted that even though their health condition is a priority, they do not always turn to their doctor when they have a cold, headaches, toothache, or intermittent pain. Now, this is despite that children experience this disease quite often. Family members tend to ignore and tolerate the symptoms or take medication. It is indisputable that such behavior that has been witnessed is simply the suppression of the symptoms, which can be a sign of more severe diseases. Second, one can see that some of the diseases have already accrued. According to family-focused functional assessment, there is chronic gastritis in the eldest daughter and allergies in both children and the mother among the chronic diseases. Allergic reactions manifest themselves in the form of a rash, cough, and runny nose.

Family-Centered Health Promotion

The fact that the family takes good enough care and tries to promote a healthy lifestyle can be stated. However, the following steps should be taken to solve the existing problems:

Do not delay the treatment. It is necessary to contact doctors in a timely manner, undergo regular examinations, and stop treatment only after the specialists allow it.
Once a year, pass a complete medical examination. Maintaining health is quite a feasible task. With the current level of medicine, almost everything can be cured, but it is much better to prevent the disease than to spend time and money fighting it.
Conduct regular conversations with children about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. For children to consciously treat health as a significant resource, discuss this topic separately from the disease (Barnes et al., 2020). Conversations about what it means to be healthy and the external and internal signs of this condition.

References

Barnes, M. D., Hanson, C. L., Novilla, L. B., Magnusson, B. M., Crandall, A. C., & Bradford, G. (2020). Family-centered health promotion: Perspectives for engaging families and achieving better health outcomes. Inquiry: A Journal of Medical Care Organization, Provision and Financing, 57, 1-14. Web.

Crandall, A., Weiss-Laxer, N. S., Broadbent, E., Holmes, E. K., Magnusson, B. M., Okano, L., Berge, J. M., Barnes, M. D., Hanson, C. L., Jones, B. L., & Novilla, L. B. (2020). The family health scale: Reliability and validity of a short and long-form. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 58-71. Web.

Solberg, L. I. (2016). Theory vs practice: Should primary care practice take on social determinants of health now? Annals of Family Medicine, 14, 102-103. Web.

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The Family’s Health Status: The Social Determinants of Health

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