Incorporation of Health Promotion Strategies for the Family

Description of Social Determinants of Health

The World Health Organization defines social determinants of health as “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age” and “the fundamental drivers of these conditions” (Braveman & Gottlieb, 2014). Social determinants of health potentially influence health behavior. Identified SDH affecting the health of the family include employment and working conditions, addiction, food, stress, and social support. The father and mother of the family fall in the category of US adults over 25 years of medium income with an activity-limiting chronic illness. The father unwillingness to quit smoking due to addiction can be linked to bronchitis that is affecting them. In addition, the pulmonary problem can be attributed to their working environment (construction industry) where they are likely to inhale harmful particles in the air. On the other hand, Mrs. Logan’s diabetic state is attributed to food. As the heads of the family, Mr. and Mrs. Logan can afford different foods for their family, but majority of it has negative effects on the health of the family. It is evident that the Logans are feeding on harmful diet that is rich in fats and sugars.

The family also experiences stress episodes, particularly in dealing with its teenage members, Elizabeth and Brian. Stress in any member of the family can have detrimental effects on the overall wellbeing of the Logans. The assessment reveals that the Logans have a very strong social support from friends, family, and religious members. Social support is an important aspect of social inclusion as evidenced through availability of social amenities that contribute to positive health behaviors. Braveman and Gottlieb (2014) contended that health related features of neighborhoods including walkability, recreational areas, and access to healthy foods, influence health related behaviors. The availability of gyms, cycling paths, and sports amenities in the neighborhood and school has immensely influenced health-related behaviors of the Logans. On the contrary, access to healthy foods remains a significance challenge that continues to have negative effects of the health of the family.

Recommended Age-appropriate Screening 

Model of Choice for Action Plan Implementation 

The best model for use is the ecological model, which according to Richard, Gauvin, and Raine (2011), has gained significance in the recent past as a distinctive approach to disease prevention and health promotion in public health. The suitability of the ecological model in the generation of an action plan for the family is based on an understanding that the health of members of the Logan family is an outcome of the interaction and interdependence of factors within and across all levels of health. The Logans are evidently active in their interactions with physical and sociocultural environments. The motivation to improve health outcomes for the whole family has seen each family member take part in positive behavior change including adoption of regular physical activities. In addition, the social life of the family involves interaction with relatives and friends for social support. The implication of physical and social activities in which the family participates in is psychological and spiritual wellbeing.

Sallis, Owen and Fisher (2015) observed that ecological health models capture important intrapersonal or individual factors such as attitudes, knowledge, beliefs, and personality that influence behavior. The model also delves into interpersonal interactions with other people, which can prove useful in the provision of social support of creation of barriers to personal promotion of health behavior. Most importantly, it is imperative to re-state that the social determinants of health identified for the family are outcomes of economic and social factors rather than behavioral factors. The ecological model takes into consideration institutional and organizational factors such as rules, regulations, policies, and informal structures for promotion of healthy behavior. Additionally, the model takes into account community factors in the form of formal or informal norms, individuals, or groups with the potential to influence of health promotion behavior. Lastly, ecological models take into consideration public policy factors in the form of local, state, or federal policies and laws for regulation and support of health promotion programs and practices.

Figure 1: The family ecological model. (Source: Davison, Lawson & Coatsworth, 2012, p. 5)

Steps for Family-centered Health Promotion 

Success of family-centered health promotion is dependent on the engagement of all stakeholders from the individual, family members, the community, institutions, and governments who form part of the ecological system. Therefore, steps for realizing the same include:

At the family level, members should be made to feel safe, engaged, and supported to elicit positive behavior that promotes health.

At the community level, emphasis on health through prevention and promotion should be the mandate of public health, health providers, and health institutions.

Community based providers of health services should engage in partnerships to ensures coverage of all areas including mental health services and social services.

Communication of health promotion through education programs for children in schools and must incorporate healthy school environment, and multi-tiered systems of support such as early childhood support, counseling and psychological services, healthy food and nutrition education, health and physical education, and after school and weekend extension activities.

The community must strive to provide the continuum of care through promotion, prevention, early intervention, intervention, treatment, and recovery.

The state must fulfill its mandate of developing and implementing effective health for all policies, agency coordination and support, partnerships, funding, and statewide networks.

References

Braveman, P., & Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: it's time to consider the causes of the causes.  Public health reports ,  129 (1_suppl2), 19-31.

Davison, K. K., Lawson, H. A., & Coatsworth, J. D. (2012). The family-centered action model of intervention layout and implementation (FAMILI) the example of childhood obesity.  Health promotion practice ,  13 (4), 454-461.

Richard, L., Gauvin, L., & Raine, K. (2011). Ecological models revisited: their uses and evolution in health promotion over two decades.  Annual review of public health ,  32 , 307-326.

Sallis, J. F., Owen, N., & Fisher, E. (2015). Ecological models of health behavior.  Health behavior: Theory, research, and practice ,  5 , 43-64.