The Social Context of Health and Health Work

The Social Context of Health and Health Work PDF Author: Linda J. Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1349234729
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 618

Book Description
The Social Context of Health and Health Work breaks new ground by linking together sociology of health and social policy perspectives. Linda Jones argues that health and health work cannot be understood in isolation. Patterns of disease, illness, treatment and provision are crucially influenced by class, race, gender, age and disability. Conflicts over health policies reflect fundamental debates about the purpose of welfare. The writer draws on her specialist knowledge of developing and teaching nursing and health studies courses, and on her recent experience of writing distance learning materials, to create a book which encourages critical thinking and supports study.

Communities in Action

Communities in Action PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309452961
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 583

Book Description
In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.

Key Policies for Addressing the Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequities

Key Policies for Addressing the Social Determinants of Health and Health Inequities PDF Author: Centers of Disease Control
Publisher: World Health Organization
ISBN: 9289052651
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 92

Book Description
Evidence indicates that actions within four main themes (early child development fair employment and decent work social protection and the living environment) are likely to have the greatest impact on the social determinants of health and health inequities. A systematic search and analysis of recommendations and policy guidelines from intergovernmental organizations and international bodies identified practical policy options for action on social determinants within these four themes. Policy options focused on early childhood education and care; child poverty; investment strategies for an inclusive economy; active labour market programmes; working conditions; social cash transfers; affordable housing; and planning and regulatory mechanisms to improve air quality and mitigate climate change. Applying combinations of these policy options alongside effective governance for health equity should enable WHO European Region Member States to reduce health inequities and synergize efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Cultural Context of Health, Illness, and Medicine

The Cultural Context of Health, Illness, and Medicine PDF Author: Elisa J. Sobo
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
ISBN: 0313377618
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 287

Book Description
A "one size fits all" approach to health care doesn't work well, especially for America's extremely diverse population. This book provides a lively and accessible discussion of how and why a more flexible and culturally sensitive system of health care can—and must be—achieved. Notable anthropologist George Foster defined the first edition as "a very readable introductory text dealing with the sociocultural aspects of health," adding: "[T]he authors do a commendable job... . I have profited from reading The Cultural Context of Health, Illness, and Medicine". With engaging examples, minimal jargon, and updated scholarship, the second edition of The Cultural Context of Health, Illness, and Medicine offers a comprehensive guide to the practice of culturally sensitive health care. Readers will see America's biomedically dominated health care system in a new light as the book reveals the changes wrought by increasing cultural diversity, technological innovation, and developments in care delivery. Written by a sociologist and an anthropologist with direct, hands-on experience in the health services, the volume tracks culture's influence on and relationship to health, illness, and health-care delivery via an examination of social structure, medical systems, and the need for—and challenges to—culturally sensitive care. Cultural differences are situated against social-class differences and related health inequities, as well as different needs and challenges throughout the life course. In prescribing caring that is more holistic, culturally sensitive, and cost-effective, the work promotes awareness of pressing issues for health care professionals—and the people they serve.

Social Work in Health Settings

Social Work in Health Settings PDF Author: Judith L.M. McCoyd
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000804690
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 536

Book Description
This fully revised and expanded fifth edition of Social Work in Health Settings: Practice in Context maintains its use of the Practice-in-Context (PiC) decision-making framework to explore a wide range of social work services in healthcare settings. The PiC is updated in this edition to attend to social determinants of health and structural conditions. The PiC framework is applied in over 30 case chapters to reflect varied health and social care settings with multiple populations. Fully updated to reflect the landscape of healthcare provision in the US since the Affordable Care Act was reaffirmed in 2020, the cases are grounded by "primer" chapters to illustrate the necessary decisional and foundational skills for best practices in social work in health settings. The cases cover micro through macro level work with individuals, families, groups, and communities across the life course. The PiC framework helps maintain focus on each of the practice decisions a social worker must make when working with a variety of clients (including military veterans, refugees, LGBTQ+ clients). The ideal textbook for social work in healthcare and clinical social work classes, this thought-provoking volume thoroughly integrates social work theory and practice and provides an excellent opportunity for understanding particular techniques and interventions.

Public Health

Public Health PDF Author: Scriven, Angela
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education (UK)
ISBN: 0335221505
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 252

Book Description
This important book makes a significant contribution to the emergent body of public health knowledge by examining debates around the social context of health, including key socio-economic, environmental and cultural factors

U.S. Health in International Perspective

U.S. Health in International Perspective PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309264146
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 421

Book Description
The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. U.S. Health in International Perspective presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage.

Social Work Practice in Health

Social Work Practice in Health PDF Author: Melissa Petrakis
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000247872
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 264

Book Description
Health services practice or working with clients facing health issues requires diverse approaches and wide-ranging knowledge. In this ground-breaking book Melissa Petrakis draws on the experience and expertise of leading researchers and practitioners to provide a guide to the disparate settings in which social workers are engaged and the conceptual frameworks and skills needed for effective practice. The book begins by examining the nature of health social work and considers its core values and principles. This section also provides an overview of the social determinants of health. Part 2 explores key areas of practice including working with children, mothers and families, hospital-based social work, domestic and family violence, mental health, dual diagnosis, forensic social work, Indigenous approaches to health, oncology and aged care. Part 3 looks at politicised issues in the field including working with people living with disability, refugee health and concludes by considering how a focus on well-being informed by Maori approaches could provide new insights into better practice. Underpinning the book throughout is a clear guide to assessment procedures, case management, strengths-based practices and developing effective partnerships and collaboration. Social Work Practice in Health is destined to become a key reference tool for social work students and practitioners, providing practical, evidence-based and insightful approaches.

Social Work in Health Settings

Social Work in Health Settings PDF Author: Judith L.M. McCoyd
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317409124
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 430

Book Description
Social Work in Health Settings: Practice in Context maintains its use of the Practice in Context (PiC) decision-making framework to explore a wide range of social work services in health care settings. The PIC framework is used to cover a broad range of social work practice sites, settings and populations over 30 case chapters. Fully updated to reflect the landscape of health care provision in the US since the Affordable Care Act was passed, the cases are grounded by ‘primer’ chapters to illustrate the necessary decisional and foundational skills for best practices in social work in health settings. The cases cover working with both individuals and groups of clients across the life course and the PiC framework helps maintain focus on each of the practice decisions a social worker must make when working with a variety of clients from military veterans to HIV positive children. The ideal textbook for social work in health care and clinical social work classes, this thought-provoking volume thoroughly integrates social work theory and practice, and provides an excellent opportunity for understanding particular techniques and interventions.

Improving Health in the Community

Improving Health in the Community PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309055342
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 497

Book Description
How do communities protect and improve the health of their populations? Health care is part of the answer but so are environmental protections, social and educational services, adequate nutrition, and a host of other activities. With concern over funding constraints, making sure such activities are efficient and effective is becoming a high priority. Improving Health in the Community explains how population-based performance monitoring programs can help communities point their efforts in the right direction. Within a broad definition of community health, the committee addresses factors surrounding the implementation of performance monitoring and explores the "why" and "how to" of establishing mechanisms to monitor the performance of those who can influence community health. The book offers a policy framework, applies a multidimensional model of the determinants of health, and provides sets of prototype performance indicators for specific health issues. Improving Health in the Community presents an attainable vision of a process that can achieve community-wide health benefits.