The social determinants of health are defined by WHO as “those factors that raise or lower the level of health in a population or individual” (Department of Health, 2013, p. 3). These factors help us to identify trends, observe the health of groups in society and discover why some groups are healthier than others. They are a key to prevention of disease or illness. These social determinants include education, occupation, income, gender, race, history and land (Agnell et al., 2016).
By drawing on my own family’s history and culture, I am able …show more content…
It is believed that early traumatic experiences can influence the genes in which are activated and deactivated within an individual and consequently how the brain and body develop. Through epigenetics we can gain a greater understanding of what past factors can affect an individual and whether these factors have lifelong effects on the health and wellbeing of that person (Day & Francisco, 2013). This contributes to my understanding as it allows me to identify reasons for health conditions such as diabetes, as individuals who have experienced trauma are more likely to develop these due to changes in gene expression (Provencal & Binder, 2015).
5. How might your own behaviour/values influence your communication with Aboriginal people/families and what are the implications for practice?
My behaviour and values have been shaped by my family, friends and the contemporary society in which we live. These values, as well as my behaviour influence the way I communicate with Aboriginal people and their families. I have grown up with the belied that we should treat all people how we would like to be treated, despite the colour of a person’s skin, their background or …show more content…
I have come to understand that what we see on the outside may be a direct result of something much deeper. For example, an Aboriginal person may have become an alcoholic and instead of judging them it is important to delve deeper into the reason for this. It could be because of sexual abuse or poor treatment from the white society (Slater & Garlett, 2015). This is known as the iceberg model, with the tip of the iceberg being the only what we can see. However, in order to understand the cause of the problem, its important to look below the surface (Victorian Healthcare Association, 2016).
A primary real life example of this is highlighted in Tammy’s story, a video describing how physical and sexual abuse at a young age caused Tammy to turn to a life of crime. This video had an impact on me as Tammy had to leave her son behind in order to go to rehab. As a result, Tammy was determined to get her life back on track so she could develop her relationship with her son. From an outsider’s point of you, Tammy looked like a trouble making alcoholic. This however stemmed from the abuse she received at a young age and with the assistance of quality health care professionals she was able to open up and get her life back on track. Therefore, I have learnt not to jump to conclusions on Aboriginal people who have