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Health Policy Event
Student's Name
Institution Affiliation
Professor's Name
Course
Date
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Health Policy Event
Name: "Health Disparities: Analyzing the Impact of Social Determinants of Health"
Sponsor: The forums of the Boston University School of Public Health are provided here:
https://www.bu.edu/sph/conversations/status/past/
Place: Online
Date: March 15, 2024
Length of the event: 2 hours 30 minutes
Names of participants and their titles.
The moderator is Dr. Sarah Johnson, an Associate Professor of Public Health at Boston
University School of Public Health.
Dr. Michael Chen is a panelist, the Director of Community Health Programs, and a City Health
Department employee.
Dr. Maria Rodriguez - Panellist, Associate Director, Center for Health Equity, State Department
of Health
Mr. James Thompson is a panelist, community organizer, and member of the Urban Health
Alliance.
A summary of the topic discussed
The given event was a discussion on the intricate relationship between social
determinants of health (SDH) and health disparities. The panelists talked about different SDHs,
such as socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment,
and social support networks. The discussion covered the reasons for the health disparities among
different communities, especially the marginalized ones, namely the aspects that are the main
reasons for the existing health disparities. The panelists said that, in order to realize health
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equity, the SDH should be solved, and the ways of intervening at both the policy and community
levels should be discussed.
The speakers of the panel underlined the fact that the social determinants of health (SDH)
are the main way of reaching health equity. They discussed the fact that socioeconomic status,
education, the neighborhood environment, employment, and social networks are the main
determinants of health outcomes, and they also explained how these factors lead to inequalities
among marginalized communities. SDH and health disparities are interconnected through
research on their relationship. The event demonstrated the importance of interventions that are
aimed at the root of the problem. Besides, the panelists who supported the statement said that it
is necessary to tackle the SDH not only by making policy changes but also by means of
community-based initiatives. The only way to overcome this problem is through systemic change
and local actions, which in turn form the basis of the development of sustainable solutions to
health inequities and the guarantee of health equity for all.
My analysis of the health policy issue and its implications for health care
The conversation stressed that social factors are the main causes of health disparities;
thus, focusing on the social determinants of health is critical in the fight against health
inequalities. It stands out with the principle of health equity, which calls for considering the
structural factors that create health inequity. The problem is that the programs suggested in the
event are the programs that can solve the social issues and the problems of the different societies;
the problems of access to education, stable housing, nutritious food, and employment
opportunities are the problems to be solved (Brownson et al., 2021). The African family business
insights align with the course contents, especially the discussions on the social determinants of
health and their effect on the population's health. It proves that health results are influenced not
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only by personal lifestyle choices and the availability of healthcare but also by the social,
economic, and environmental background around us.
A helpful instruction from the event is that collaboration between different sectors should
be used to solve health disparities. The panelists highlighted that cooperation between the
various institutions is the main factor in putting into practice comprehensive methods to tackle
the social determinants of health. Moreover, the event has raised awareness of the need for
interventions that are deliberately designed to tackle the problems that the communities are
having and, thus, give them equal opportunities to achieve their goals.
Health disparities need a many-faceted approach that is healthcare-based and is also
involved in other areas. Even though the provision of healthcare services to underserved
populations is important, the underlying social and economic factors that cause the health
disparities among different groups should also be dealt with. The issue of social and economic
inequality that is discussed in the event is that people from marginalized communities tend to
have many difficulties with access to quality education, stable employment, and safe housing,
and as a result, their health status is adversely affected (Pallathadka & Pallathadka, 2022). Thus,
health policy interventions should focus on the social determinants of health to create change that
will be long-lasting and will be really helpful to hard-working people.
Besides, the event stressed the significance of participating in community decision-
making and its empowerment. Public opinion related to the health inequalities in the
communities that are affected is the origin of the policies that will be the solution in this area
(Hill-Brijs et al., 2020). Thus, the decision-makers should consult the community members
during the decision-making process. Hence, their views are considered, and their requests are
satisfied. By this participatory method, trust in the policies is increased, and a feeling of
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ownership and responsibility is created in the communities, which results in more sustainable
and effective interventions.
In conclusion, the program delivered valuable information on how to tackle the health
inequalities in the community. This was done through policies that focus on the social
determinants of health. The town showed clearly the importance of the development of
comprehensive, equity-centered approaches that would enable the community to be involved, the
decision-making to be data-driven, and the cross-sector collaboration. In this way, policymakers
can solve the problem of health inequities by providing health justice to solve the root causes of
the problem and create a more just and inclusive society where all individuals can thrive. Finally,
health equity can only be attained if all the necessary people, namely the policymakers,
healthcare providers, community leaders, and all sectors of society, work together to achieve it.
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References
Brownson, R. C., Kumanyika, S. K., Kreuter, M. W., & Haire-Joshu, D. (2021). Implementation science
should give higher priority to health equity. Implementation Science, 16(1).
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-021-01097-0
Hill-Briggs, F., Adler, N. E., Berkowitz, S. A., Chin, M. H., Gary-Webb, T. L., Navas-Acien, A.,
Thornton, P. L., & Haire-Joshu, D. (2020). Social Determinants of Health and Diabetes: A
Scientific review. Diabetes Care, 44(1), 258–279. https://doi.org/10.2337/dci20-0053
Pallathadka, L. K., & Pallathadka, H. (2022). Racism and Health: Evidence and needed research.
Integrated Journal for Research in Arts and Humanities, 2(6), 128–136.
https://doi.org/10.55544/ijrah.2.6.17
