unit 5 assignment 1
unit 5 assignment 1
Thus far in the course we have used epidemiology techniques to study health issues at the individual level in terms of morbidity and mortality and we have learned to view disease trends from a larger perspective in terms of a population defined as a community, or a state or as a nation. An important component of understanding chronic diseases is to consider the complexities of society. Social Epidemiology views health as a determinate of an intricate relationship of lifestyle factors. Such social factors may include a nation’s structural makeup (economy, value on health care, culture, discrimination, infrastructure), an individual’s social connections (work, school, religion, family, neighbors, friends), and a person’s individual characteristics (stress, health behaviors, psychological makeup). Therefore, one’s health status could be predicted when the aforementioned factors are considered in totality.
With consideration of what you have learned about social determinants on health in your textbook, what social and behavioral factors do you consider to be attributable to chronic disease? Choose from one of the following chronic diseases listed below and provide the requested information.
Chronic Diseases:
- Obesity
- Heart Disease
- Stroke
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Cancer
Questions
- Explain the disease or condition.
- What factors (environment, infrastructure, policy, culture, SES, poverty, religion,..) in our society contributes to the disease or condition?
- What is the morbidity, mortality, and financial impact to the United States?
- What can our society do to prevent or lower the prevalence of the disease or condition?
