Social Determinants Of Health In Uk Essay

As we have learned in our class this semester, different countries and regions are subject to various health trends and outcomes. These come from a myriad of different factors, such as population, social determinants, demographic transition, and health care and interventions. The United Kingdom is one of the foremost leaders in the world in life expectancy, so it should be expected that this nation has favorable health determining factors. The United Kingdom is a sovereign state located in northwestern Europe off the continental mainland. It contains the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. As we all know, the United Kingdom has a very complicated story, as it once had land claims on all seven continents, and now it

These determinants describe the conditions where people live and work (World Health Organization). Typically, the lower the socioeconomic position of a certain population, the worse their health outcomes will be. In the United Kingdom, the three major social determinants of health are child development and education, employment, and living standards (GOV.UK). Education is often the basis of healthy behaviors and outcomes, which is why child development and educational attainment is one of the top social determinants of health in the United Kingdom. Highly educated individuals have been shown to have decreased rates of chronic diseases as well as mental health disorders. In the United Kingdom, children are given a test around age five that tests their “school-readiness”. To achieve a good standing, the child must be able to adequately communicate, be physically developed, and be able to appropriately interact with their social and emotional environment. It has been shown that the rates of children who must receive free school meals have a much lower rate of receiving school eligibility than their peers who do not require free school meals (GOV.UK). By not being eligible for schooling, that means that not only is the child not properly developed, but they will also be behind a large majority of their peers in education

As I have previously stated, most of the United Kingdom’s social determinants of health are the product of a lack of proper educational opportunities for children of low-income families. Even though it is not directly a health intervention, I would create programs that make education more accessible. All children in the United Kingdom must pass an entrance exam to begin schooling, and this seems to be the largest roadblock to many children’s educational opportunities. Once a child is being their peers in the education system, it is difficult for them to catch up, and they essentially become stuck. Without proper education, individuals will have a harder time finding a job, without a job, families will not be able to pay to educate their own children. This ends up causing a very vicious cycle that is not easy to remove oneself from. I would want to focus on helping those that are of a lower socioeconomic status that end up stuck in these loops. There are multiple ways that we can both directly and indirectly improve the health of this population. Indirectly, an alternative or modified education program to cater to those children who do not pass the entrance exam. This will allow those kids to at the very least be less behind their peers and not have to suffer as much on the job and income market. Additionally, the health issues