What Impact Do Health Policies Have on Social Factors?

Poor hospital conditions

Global health policies have major impacts on social conditions. Poor policies can lead to poor health, which leads to poor social conditions and ultimately worse health. This cyclical relationship can be seen all over the world, including in the U.S.

Size

According to a Harvard study released in September 2009, 45,000 Americans die each year due to a lack of health care coverage. Generally, these people are from poor socioeconomic backgrounds.

Significance

A lack of understanding the best practices during childbirth can lead to increased mortality rates among women. For example, in India, one in 70 women of reproductive age dies during pregnancy, contributing to the high level of orphans in the country.

Effects

Premature death is commonplace in the world's poorer neighborhoods, according to the BBC. This fosters a circumstance that favors transient populations, preventing long-term social growth.

Features

When health policies negatively impact populations, general conditions are seen to suffer. The World Health Organization claims that poor health leads to increased incidence of violence, malnutrition, stress and environmental pollution.

Considerations

Sir Michael Marmot, chairman of the Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, states in a report that most countries use the concept of intervention rather than prevention as a means of medical care. This means that there is little information given to people on how to take care of themselves. In the long run, this creates more health problems.

References

• Social factors key to ill health
• Harvard Medical Study Links Lack of Insurance to 45,000 U.S. Deaths a Year
• What Causes Ill Health?

Resources

• Poverty and poor health are intertwined, experts say
• World Health Organization