“Canada is one of the healthiest countries in the world. However, some Canadians are healthier and have more opportunities to lead a healthy life” (Gov’ of Canada, 2020). Social determinants of health play key factors in the ability of an individual to live a healthy lifestyle. Even in a developed country such as Canada, there are health inequalities which can relate back to these determinants of health. Below are the Social Determinants of Health as described by Raphael, D., Bryant, T., Mikkonen, J. and Raphael, A. (2020):

 

Social Determinants of Health

 

Income and social status

 

Employment and working conditions

 

Education and literacy

 

Childhood experiences

 

Physical environments

 

Social supports and coping skills

 

Healthy behaviours

 

Access to health services

 

Biology and genetic endowment

 

Gender

 

Culture

 

Race / Racism

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Conference board of Canada is a company which uses research and connections to deliver valuable information to top Canadian leaders and companies to help develop programs that aim to improve life in Canada. One very important study that was conducted and ranked Canadian provinces on 10 report card indicators. These indicators are highly linked to overall social determinants of health. Newfoundland and Labrador does very poorly on this ranking with many levels below national standards (The conference board of Canada, 2015). I believe that this in part is due to social determinants of health.

 

For the purpose of this blog post I will focus on 3 social determinants of health which I feel have the greatest negative impact to the health of Newfoundland and Labrador citizens.

 

Income and Social Status

 

“Health researchers have demonstrated a clear link between income and socio-economic status and health outcomes, such that longevity and state of health rise with position on the income scales” (Raphael, D., Bryant, T., Mikkonen, J. and Raphael, A., 2020). In Newfoundland income and social status is among the lowest in the country with many individuals having to travel out of province for work. This has a very negative impact on overall health of individuals in the province. Income affects many factors such as diet, educational levels, alcohol use and has been linked to physical activity levels (Raphael, D. et. Al, 2020).

 

 

From the information noted in Chart 1 below, Newfoundland and Labrador historically has had the highest rate of poverty when compared with the Atlantic Provinces and the rest of Canada (Gov’n of NL, 2003).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Education and Literacy

Education is a very important determinant of health. Education is historically linked to a higher level of income and in turn, health. Education also allows a person to understand the importance of health promotion and disease prevention in life (Raphael, D. et. Al, 2020). In Newfoundland, vital statistics found that 26% of males and 25.4% of females aged 25-64 years had an education level of less than high school (Statistics Canada, 2006). The government of NL has implemented many interventions to assist individuals with obtaining a higher level of education such as a long stand tuition freeze for post-secondary education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Access to health services

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Another social determinant of health is access to health services. Newfoundland and Labrador is geographically one of the largest provinces in Canada. In the entirety of the province, there is only one major hospital which provides many specialities and most importantly, cancer care. Any patient requiring Radiation Therapy for example must relocate to St. John’s for this treatment, even if from Labrador. This can be extremely expensive especially for individuals who require longstanding treatment and might even mean that the person has to permanently move. Another very startling statistic is that nearly 90,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians do not have a family physician (Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, 2021). Not having readily available access to a family physician negatively affects one health in many ways including early intervention and identification of health issues as well as management of acute and chronic health issues. 

 

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References:

 

Government of Canada. (2020). Social determinants of health and health inequalities. Retrieved      

      from, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-

      health/what-determines-health.html.

 

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2003). Reducing Poverty in Newfoundland and

      Labrador: Working towards a solution. Retrieved from                   

      https://www.gov.nl.ca/publicat/povertydiscussion-final.pdf

 

Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association. (2021). NLMA calls on leadership candidates

     to help the 90,000 people in NL without a family doctor. Retrieved from:                     

     https://www.nlma.nl.ca/News-And-Events/NLMA-News/Page/0/Article/371

 

Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association. (2021, January 18). NLMA, Doctors see

      things you can’t. [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKEz1d9qlRw

 

Raphael, D., Bryant, T., Mikkonen, J. and Raphael, A. (2020). Social determinants of health: The          

     Canadian facts (2nd edition). Ontario Tech University Faculty of Health Sciences and York                   University School of Health Policy and Management.

 

Statistics Canada. (2006). Visual census: Education, Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved

      https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/fs-fi/index.

 

The Conference Board of Canada. (2015). Provincial and Territorial rankings: Health. Retrieved               from: https://www.conferenceboard.ca/press/newsrelease/150212/Newfoundland

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