1. Factors Affecting Health
Umm Al-Qura University
Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics
Health Education and Promotion Department
Factors Affecting Health
By: Dr. Ahmed Abdullah

2. Contents of the Lecture
Health
Health Determinants
Factors Affect The Health

3. Health
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

4. Factor Affecting the Health
FIFTH LEVEL
Factor Affecting the Health
In order to improve population health status and reduce health inequalities, it is important to identify and understand the main factors that protect and promote good health. These factors are known as the determinants of health.

5. Health determinants The causes of poor health are complex.
Age, sex and hereditary (genetic) factors are central but not modifiable.
Demographic changes also affect population health.
Individual lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking and alcohol, physical activity and sexual behaviour are also important.
A clean and safe environment, adequate income, meaningful roles in society, good housing, population-based services and utilities, affordable nutritious food, education and social support within communities all contribute towards good health.

6. Health Determinant
Health is determined by a convergence of five levels:
human biology, hereditary factors, age, sex, person’s individual characteristics.
Individual life style.
Social and community influence.
Living and working condition.
General socioeconomic and cultural and environmental conditions.

8. FIRST LEVEL
Human Biology
It includes those aspects of health (both mental and physical) which are determined by the organic structure and physiological functioning of the human body.

9. FIRST LEVEL
Hereditary Factors
Inheritance plays a part in determining lifespan, healthiness and the likelihood of developing certain illnesses.
The inheritance factors are can be:
Race
Sex
Inherited Diseases

10. Individual Life Style Behavioral Influences: Tobacco use
FIRST LEVEL
Individual Life Style
Behavioral Influences:
Tobacco use
Unhealthy diet
Inadequate activity
Alcohol and drug use
Behaviors leading to intentional/unintentional injury.
Personal behavior:
coping skills and how we deal with life’s stresses and challenges are among the factors that affect the health.

11. Social and Community Factors
SECOND LEVEL
Social and Community Factors
The social and community factors that have been shown in a variety of settings to have the greatest influence on health are:
Education
Social cohesion
social connectedness.

12. SECOND LEVEL
Education
Education has profound health effects. More education makes an individual more aware of healthy and unhealthy choices and makes it easier to make healthy choices.
A low level of education is associated with poor health status.
Low education levels are linked with poor health, more stress and lower self-confidence.

13. SECOND LEVEL
Social Cohesion
People with strong family, cultural and community bonds have better health than people who are socially isolated. 

14. SECOND LEVEL
Social Connectedness
Social connectedness is related to the health of individuals and communities.
Single parent families, people with mental illness, people with disabilities, people living alone and older people are particularly vulnerable to social isolation.

15. SECOND LEVEL
Community
Characteristics of communities can influence health in many ways either direct or indirect. For example, neighborhoods can be physically hazardous because of air and chemical pollution, traffic, lack of sidewalks and safe places to exercise, and the dangers of crime. 

16. Living and Working Condition
THIRD LEVEL
Living and Working Condition
Housing
Work
Employment and Occupation

17. THIRD LEVEL
Housing
Overcrowding, damp and cold have direct effects on physical and mental health.
High housing costs leave less money for other budget items essential to good health including nutritious food, education, and access to health services.

18. THIRD LEVEL
Housing
Poor-quality housing poses a risk of exposure to many conditions that can contribute to poor health, such as indoor allergens that can lead to (and increase) asthma, injuries, and exposure to lead and other toxic substances.

19. THIRD LEVEL
Work
Work can influence health in many ways, including through links both with health care insurance and with physically hazardous exposures in the workplace. 

20. Employment and occupation
FOURTH LEVEL
Employment and occupation
The main factor determining adequate income is participation in continuous employment.
As such, employment is an important determinant of health.
In addition to providing income, employment enhances social status and improves self-esteem, provides social contact and a way of participating in community life, and enhances opportunities for regular activity, which all help to enhance individual health and well-being.

21. Employment and working conditions
FOURTH LEVEL
Employment and working conditions
people in employment are healthier, particularly those who have more control over their working conditions

22. General socioeconomic and cultural and environmental conditions
FIFTH LEVEL
General socioeconomic and cultural and environmental conditions
Income
Poverty
Ethnicity
Culture
Environment

23. FIFTH LEVEL
Income
Income is the single most important determinant of health. There is a persistent correlation between low income and poor health.
the low income leads to the highest rates of illness and death.
Adequate income is a prerequisite for many other determinants of health, for example, adequate housing, a nutritious diet and educational opportunities.

24. Income and social status
FIFTH LEVEL
Income and social status
Higher income and social status are linked to better health. The greater the gap between the richest and poorest people, the greater the differences in health.

25. FIFTH LEVEL
Poverty
Poverty has long been recognized as an important determinant of ill health.
People who are poor have worse self-reported health, higher rates of disability, and higher rates of death, disease and injury.

26. FIFTH LEVEL
Race and Ethnicity
Racial and ethnic background has profound effects on an individual’s health.
There are advantages and disadvantages of race and ethnicity that can affect the health. 

27. Cultural Factors Definitions of Culture:
FIFTH LEVEL
Cultural Factors
Definitions of Culture:
A system of thoughts & behaviors shared by a group of people.
Refers to an integrated pattern of belief and behavior.

28. FIFTH LEVEL
Culture and Ethnicity
Cultural factors can have both a positive and a negative influence on health.
Health inequalities within ethnic groups are as important as health inequalities between different ethnic groups.

29. Environmental Factors
FIFTH LEVEL
Environmental Factors
The Physical Environment :
The quality of air.
water safety.
Food safety.
Drugs and other chemicals products.
Waste disposal.
control of excessive noise.
Lighting.
The radiation.

30. Population-based services and facilities
Utilities such as water and sewerage reticulation contributed towards large improvements in population health.
Maintenance of these services, is essential to protecting population health and should be a high priority.