INTRODUCTION:
SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH IN SIERRA LEONE
The health of an individual starts in their homes, place of work, community and school. We take care of yourselves by eating healthy foods, staying active, getting the necessary immunizations, avoiding smoking and seeking healthcare when we fall ill. Social determinants of health are those conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life (Social Determinants of Health, 2017). Unfortunately, the circumstances in which we live explain why some of us are healthy and others are not. It is important to understand the social determinants of a community, society or nation because these factors underlie …show more content…
In spite of the numerous opportunities, Sierra Leone continues to face substantial difficulties in education. Unfortunately, the educational system became the first causality in the decade-long civil war. As of 2015, the literacy rate of the population of Sierra Leone was recorded at 48.1% (The World FactBook: Literacy, 2015). What continues to be a plague in the educational system is the low enrollment of girls and the high number of drop-outs. The gender inequality is as a result of child brides, premature pregnancy and cultural biases of the girl child (Education in Sierra Leone, 2007). The educational system also faces immense scarcity in trained teachers and educational equipment and supplies such as …show more content…
Health literacy is more than just being able to read health information but also entails being able to accurately follow the directions for a healthcare provider. Sierra Leone has a very low literacy rate and therefore it makes it very difficult for the majority of the people to be able to fully comprehend health information. The government has also done little or no effort in educating the public of health issues and in the end most of these people seek heath advice from traditional healers. This inadequate level of health literacy in Sierra Leone has heightened to a public health concern. One is required to be adept in health literacy in order to effectually traverse the healthcare system and lead a hale and hearty lifestyle. People with low health literacy usually are of poor health as a result of meagre control of disease and the inability to obtain and follow everyday basic health directives. In fact, health literacy is a contributing factor to health
SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH IN SIERRA LEONE
The health of an individual starts in their homes, place of work, community and school. We take care of yourselves by eating healthy foods, staying active, getting the necessary immunizations, avoiding smoking and seeking healthcare when we fall ill. Social determinants of health are those conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life (Social Determinants of Health, 2017). Unfortunately, the circumstances in which we live explain why some of us are healthy and others are not. It is important to understand the social determinants of a community, society or nation because these factors underlie …show more content…
In spite of the numerous opportunities, Sierra Leone continues to face substantial difficulties in education. Unfortunately, the educational system became the first causality in the decade-long civil war. As of 2015, the literacy rate of the population of Sierra Leone was recorded at 48.1% (The World FactBook: Literacy, 2015). What continues to be a plague in the educational system is the low enrollment of girls and the high number of drop-outs. The gender inequality is as a result of child brides, premature pregnancy and cultural biases of the girl child (Education in Sierra Leone, 2007). The educational system also faces immense scarcity in trained teachers and educational equipment and supplies such as …show more content…
Health literacy is more than just being able to read health information but also entails being able to accurately follow the directions for a healthcare provider. Sierra Leone has a very low literacy rate and therefore it makes it very difficult for the majority of the people to be able to fully comprehend health information. The government has also done little or no effort in educating the public of health issues and in the end most of these people seek heath advice from traditional healers. This inadequate level of health literacy in Sierra Leone has heightened to a public health concern. One is required to be adept in health literacy in order to effectually traverse the healthcare system and lead a hale and hearty lifestyle. People with low health literacy usually are of poor health as a result of meagre control of disease and the inability to obtain and follow everyday basic health directives. In fact, health literacy is a contributing factor to health