Social health Determinants

Many determinants of health are predictably outside an individual's control. Social determinants of health play a critical role in explaining health disparities in an area because they contribute largely to people's ability to access health care. Some of the major social determinants of public health include; the physical environment, social status and support networks, education, gender and health services. People with high incomes often belong to higher social cadres hence can access better and quality healthcare services. The level of education of an individual or a community determines the health conditions visible in the community or around the individual. Basing on the social determinants provided by WHO, avoidable mortality and accessibility of health services are the most critical determinants of public health.

Avoidable mortality refers to deaths before the life expectancy limit which could have been avoided because there are adequate health care interventions in place. Accessibility of health care services is determined by the number of hospitalisations for conditions that have been branded ‘avoidable'. In-depth research has shown Hong Kong to be home to one of the least avoidable mortality rates, especially when compared with other cities across the globe, specifically Manhattan, Paris and Inner London (Rodwin, 2011). Additionally, the country comes in second when the lowest rates of hospital admissions for ‘avoidable health conditions' get considered. The basis of the foundations of the District Health Center (DHC) policy was the government's focus on delivering primary health care through district-based services. Essentially, health promotion, health assessment, community rehabilitation and chronic disease management are the cornerstones of healthcare policies.

Some of the primary health care policies listed under the DHC policy include the prevention and control of diseases, employee benefits and support, maternity and paternity leave, community support for people with disabilities and support for the elderly. The policies mentioned above get hinged on the social determinants of health due to the fundamental maxim that various factors come into play to affect public health. While focusing on the control and prevention of diseases, it behooves one to appreciate that Kwai Tsing has a history of tobacco smoking (Schoeb, 2016). Moreover, maintaining the competitiveness of the workforce in Hong King through the provision of medical benefits shall help to unleash the potential of the workforce. The current labour policy agenda in the government is the protection of retirement benefits.

Comprised of a significant greying population, Kwai Tsing needs to focus on providing sources of income for the elderly to facilitate access to health services. Concerning maternity and paternity leave, gender as a social health determinant comes into the spotlight. Following the endorsement of the Employment Bill 2008, statutory paternity leave shall be increased by two days. Presently, the prevalence of tobacco smoking has dropped from over 20% in the 1980s to 10%. Targets for Kwai Tsing district are to reduce the rates mentioned above further substantially. Control and prevention of diseases involves a prevention of extremes and education of the public concerning breast and cervical cancer. Reducing the cancer burden imposed on society is one of the priorities of the DHC policy. Various strategies are being mapped out for the cancer prevention and the provision of care services between 2020 and 2025.