According to Health People 2020 (2015), the health of an individual depends on among other things, social factors. The social factors have profound effects on the health of a person directly or indirectly. There are numerous social factors that have had significant effects on my health.
Among the primary social factors that have influenced my health is the availability of resources. I have been lucky to have adequate resources to afford a decent house, food, and clothing. These form the basic needs for the survival of humans. If one lacks adequate or balanced food, they often suffer from different diseases like marasmus, kwashiorkor, anemia, among others. In addition, improper diet may weaken the immunity of an individual rendering the person vulnerable to a wide range of infectious diseases. Exposure to extreme coldness also reduces the resistance to diseases. I have avoided the majority of these incidences through taking a proper diet, clothing, and shelter.
In addition, I live in a healthy community where the perception of all the people is right. Social norms such as racism, discrimination, and even distrustful public servants can affect the physical and psychological health of the individual. For example, anxiety and depression affect individuals in insecure regions. Having the right social norm, therefore, helps avert such conditions. The public safety depends on the social norms the community adopts. In areas where there is recurrent violence, the health of the people is adversely affected. One becomes prone to physical injury or trauma.
All the time, I could access healthcare facilities quickly. In the event I was ill, it was quite easy for me to access healthcare services and even pay for them. The access and ability to settle the bills in the healthcare facilities determines the rate of recovery from illnesses. Those who cannot access healthcare services usually succumb to diseases that are 100% curable. Other social factors that influence my health include quality of education, language and literacy, access to technology, transportation, availability of clean water, and culture among others. All these work in unison to boost my health status through making an informed decision.
Works cited
Healthy People 2020. Social Determinant of Health. Web. 28 April, 2015. Accessed on 28 April 2015 from <http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social- determinants- health>
