Social determinants, suboptimal health behavior, and morbidity in urban slum population: an Indian perspective
Pawar, A.B.; Mohan, P.V.T.K.; Bansal, R.K.
Journal of Urban Health Bulletin of the new York Academy of Medicine 85(4): 607-618
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1099-3460 PMID: 18404392 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-008-9261-3Document Number: 201991
Improving the health of urban residents, particularly those living in slum areas, requires an integrated approach. Appropriate interventions must be based on a well-grounded understanding of health determinants. Social factors are as important as physical factors in determining health status and suggest alternative interventions. Employment, stress, social exclusion, social support, substance use, nutrition, transport, and conditions during childhood are among the most important social determinants of health status identified by the International Center for Health and Society. This paper uses social determinants of health approach to understand morbidity outcomes for people residing in the slums of Surat City, India. To quantify suboptimal health behavior and identify the determinants of health status for this population survey data on household characteristics, health-seeking behavior, socioeconomic status, food and personal habits, social life, and physical activity has been used. After controlling for socioeconomic and demographic factors, logistic regression analysis reveals that social exclusion, stress, and lack of social support are significantly associated with morbidity. Thus, understanding of social determinants of health by policy makers is important as the health sector has a crucial role in addressing disparities in social determinants.
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