Social Determinants Of Health Model

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The World Health Organisation (1948) (WHO) defined the word “Health” as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. However this is not an exhaustive definition or deemed to be the right one. It is very much a contested term thus has been involved in great controversy. It is however agreed that the meaning of health will differ among individuals (Sartorious, 2006; WHO, 1948). Health is very much dependant on the surrounding social determinants represented within the determinants of health model (1992) by Dahlgren and Whitehead. The model is a series of levels starting from the early years of birth through to determinants based on the wider socioeconomic, cultural and environmental