Determinants Of Health

Research Paper 2

Impact of education on health/health outcomes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “The conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. These conditions are known as social determinants of health (SDOH).” One of the five key areas of social determinants of health is education which plays a critical role in maintaining health. Education is a predictor of better health and people with higher levels of education have a better understanding of their health. ("Social determinants of health: know what affects health," 2015). Educated people also manage their stress more effectively and make rational decisions regarding their health than

Among other factors, the gender difference that is prevailing in these countries plays a significant role in the lower educational level of women that, in turn, has a significant effect on the consequences and the determinants of health. In developing countries, due to the gender gap, men restrict women to the four walls of the house and expect to do domestic and reproductive works. Studies have shown that even the relatively wealthy and educated women in these countries find themselves within the household. The gender gap influence how the health system responds to male and female and the implementation of the health policies. (Vlassoff,

In my opinion, there are several valid reasons for this difference and it takes several years of dedication and everyone’s enormous effort to get rid of these differences. First of all, the division of states in the underdeveloped countries based on the caste, religion, and political system is why these countries lag behind. Should there be a centralized government just as in the industrialized nations, there would be more development and progress. Secondly, education is not standardized in the underdeveloped nations and schools admit students based on their level of wealth. The government provides schooling until high school in some of the underdeveloped nations, but the educational standard is way lower than the school the children from richer families attend. Thirdly, gender difference has also played a significant role in the underdevelopment of these nations. Girls are limited to household work and boys attend school and work. Because the women do not work outside, they have to rely on the male member of the house to make all kinds of decision, including health. Fourth, unlike in the industrialized nations, poor people in the underdeveloped nations have to pay higher taxes and even part of what they cultivate annually, which is why poor people remain poor throughout their