Introduction
According to WHO, health is defined as a state of social, mental, and physical wellbeing and not merely a lack of infirmity or disease. Better health can be achieved by motivating and encouraging healthy activities, including adequate sleep and regular physical activities or exercises, and minimizing unhealthful situations or activities like excessive stress or smoking. Some of the contributors to unhealthy life are based on individual choices like involvement in high-risk activities or behaviors. In contrast, other factors are based on structural causes like environmental and societal arrangements (Galea, 2021). Other factors are placed beyond both society and individual choice, like genetic disorders. This paper explores various health factors, including social determinants and those affecting illness and wellbeing.
Health is thus dynamic and complex, requiring comprehensive understanding to implement effective interventions in promoting health. This paper explores wellness, illness, and health by navigating various determinants impacting people’s wellbeing. The paper appreciates health as a biomedical state and explores its multifaceted nature through understanding the physical ailments intertwined with social and mental dimensions (Maslove et al., 2022). Through signposting, the paper aims to inform others on the interconnectedness of various factors and concepts associated with healthful living, providing basics for an in-depth analysis of locality health profiles and health inequalities. Illness is defined as an unhealthy state of mind or the body, and wellness can be described as prioritizing healthy activities daily to attain better mental and physical health results, leading to thriving rather than just surviving.
Part One
Health
The meaning of the word health has transformed from the past, where the early definition of the term concentrated on the body’s capability to act and function properly. In the past, health was viewed as a matter of standard functionality that could be affected and disrupted from one moment to another by introducing a disease. In 1948, WHO came up with a health definition that aimed at connecting health to one wellbeing based on social, mental, and physical wellbeing and not only the absence of infirmity and disease. In the 1980s, the WHO came up with an upgraded definition of health as an extent to which one or society can recognize aspirations, satisfy their needs, and cope or change with the environment or society. Health was termed a resource of daily life and a positive concept focusing on personal and social resources and physical capacities (O’Connor et al., 2019). The definition evolved health to recover from previous events and maintain homeostasis. One must attain skills, handle stress, and maintain relationships to maintain health.
Health illustrates the absence of a disease, representing the equilibrium dynamic of social, mental, and physical wellbeing. It involves the capability of a person to manage and adapt to different stressors impacting life, achieving optimal functioning, and fostering resilience. In appreciating the holistic approach, health acknowledges the interconnection between social, psychological, and biological factors. This definition appreciates the essence of treating ailments and solving or addressing various underlying determinants affecting the wellbeing of communities and individuals.
Illness
Illness is not only based on diagnosis but also on departure from the state of the equilibrium. It includes various conditions that affect one social, mental, or physical dimensions, disrupting the average balance of health (Al-Haddad et al., 2019). The definition of illness is based on observable symptoms and extends to a person’s subjective experience, including emotions, perceptions, and the effects on their day-to-day lives. Acknowledging the subjective aspect of illness helps and encourages healthcare providers to incorporate the unique encounter of every person in fostering client-centered care, which is broader than disease-focused.
Wellness
Wellness is defined as encouraging healthy habits to achieve better mental and physical results to achieve good thriving. To better understand wellness, it’s essential to acknowledge its interconnection with health. Various lifestyle areas are considered to achieve overall wellness, including exercise, mindfulness, nutrition, and social connectedness. These factors impact mental and physical health (Kim et al., 2020). To achieve wellness, people are encouraged to exercise and make healthy and straightforward daily decisions to attain positive social interactions, minimize stress, and optimize wellness. Focusing on social connectedness, one must connect with loved ones and friends to improve mental and physical health. Exercise is also an essential factor to consider towards achieving awareness. People are encouraged to take around thirty minutes daily to practice exercise towards improving their mood and wellbeing. Nutrition is also an essential factor in achieving healthy living and wellbeing. It was necessary to observe the nutritional regime in meals. Sleep is also essential, including observing sleep hygiene and also observing mindfulness.
Wellness is one of the proactive pursuits towards achieving a healthy and fulfilling life, which involves making conscious choices, attitudes, and behaviors able to affect overall wellbeing positively. Wellness is based on the absence of illness and focusing on enhancing quality of life. It encompasses various dimensions: emotional resilience, intellectual stimulation, spiritual wellbeing, and physical fitness (Layard & De Neve, 2023). The aspect of wellness encourages people not only to solve existing health issues but also to adopt promotive habits, a preventive mindset able to contribute towards vitality and sustained health.
Determinants of health
The multifactor determinants of health influence the health results across peoples’ lifespans, and examples of these include social determinants like education, employment, and socioeconomic status. For example, people with higher education and high-income levels are likely able to attain and access quality healthcare resources, resulting in better-improved health results. People with economic disparities will likely encounter limited access to quality care, resulting in poor health outcomes.
Environmental determinants are other fundamental factors affecting health outcomes, such as working and living conditions, access to green spaces, and water and air quality. People living in environments with limited access to safe houses, recreational spaces, and nutritious food are more likely to encounter a higher risk of suffering from mental health and chronic illnesses (Thornton & Persaud, 2018). Biological determinants also impact health, including health behavior and genetic factors, affecting an individual’s susceptibility to specific diseases and preventive strategies’ effectiveness.
Health inequalities between population groups
Health inequalities from different population groups exist due to various complex interplay factors ranging from environmental, economic, cultural, and social factors, resulting in disparities in health results. The inequalities manifest from various variations, including access to healthcare, disease prevalence, and wellbeing among people in various demographic groups. It is essential to understand these disparities to come up with effective health strategies and interventions. Social and economic status is a common and significant determinant of health. People with lower economic status usually face barriers to preventive services, health education, and quality care. There are various factors behind poor socioeconomic status and delayed medical treatment that results in massive progression of the disease, resulting in poor health outcome.
Education is another factor behind poor health, where better education is associated with high health knowledge, improved access to employment chances, and healthier lifestyle opportunities that provide better health benefits. Limited education changes can be attributed to a lack of adherence to healthier behavior and poor health literacy (Kim et al., 2020). Gender is another factor that varies in population and affects health with differences in health results between women and men. Biological differences, societal expectations, and access to healthcare services can result in differences in health status. For instance, women may encounter unique or specific health issues associated with reproductive health that might be absent in men. Other health disparities in different population groups include health behaviors, environmental factors, ethnic and cultural factors, and societal access to healthcare facilities or resources.
Part Two: Mini Locality Health Profile
Outline of the geographical location
The locality chosen is South Bristol, UK. It is located southwest of the United Kingdom and has a diverse urban society, including neighborhoods like Knowle, Withywood, and Bedminster. The area’s Demographic composition comprises age groups, social economic backgrounds, and ethnicities (Hassiotis, 2020). The area is commonly known due to its vibrancy, cultural and commercial spaces, and a blend of residential and historical landmarks. Compared to the neighboring localities, South Bristol possesses a unique combination of community resilience and urban challenges. In England, the ratio of males is 49% and that of females 51%, with around 64% of the total population in south Bristol being of working age between 16 to 64 years and 17% of retired age.
The composition of Ethnicity in South Bristol comprises white 81.1%, mixed 4.5%, black 5.9%, Asians 6/6%, and others comprising 1.9%. In South Bristol, there is a higher proportion of people living in higher deprived regions compared to other regions in Bristol, with a proportion of 28.8% vs 19.9%. Ten areas are classified or grouped as most deprived in South Bristol, including Knowle West, Hartcliffe, and Whitchurch Park. Hareclive is classified as the most deprived, being ranked at 91st position in England. Around 21.0% of children living in South Bristol under 16 years live in families classified as low-income earners or low socioeconomic class. Around 237 households in the region of South Bristol live in temporary accommodation, indicating around 19.1% owned by the Bristol City Council. Based on the snapshot taken in 2023, on March 31st, out % of 1,552 service users, 59% were females, while 41% were females based on adult social care. 51% of the population had physical issues, 18% required disability support learning, 14% required mental health services or support, and 9% in need of support for cognition and memory.
According to the data presented on the locality partnership health profile of South Bristol on health, wellbeing analysis, and broader locality determinants in comparison to England and Bristol on July 2023, it represents the following statistics. The life expectancy aspect indicated that those at-birth females in 2021 South Bristol recorded 82.1, Bristol 82 (Boyd et al., 2019). While England indicated 82.8. The male birth life expectancy recorded in South Bristol was 77.2, Bristol 77.7, and England 78.7. Statistics recorded for children and young people indicated that the percentage of mothers smoking during the period of delivery or with a history of active smoking was 10.8% in South Bristol, 8.65 in Bristol, and 8.95 in England. Children recorded as overweight 10 to 11 years, South Bristol was 37.4%, Bristol 36.4%, and England 37.8%.
The number of hospital admissions as a result of self-harm among children and young people between 10 to 24 years per a population of 10,000 was 750.2 in south Bristol, 647.6 in Bristol, and 427.3 in England. Focusing on healthy lifestyles: adults reported to be overweight or overweight in South Bristol indicated 56.3%, Bristol 47.5%. The households with smokers included 17.6% in south Bristol and 15.5% in Bristol. The rates of hospital admissions due to alcohol-based conditions per 100,000 people in South Bristol were recorded at 1163 in Bristol in 1132. Based on mental health, the rates of depression recorded indicated 16.3% in South Bristol, 13.9% in Bristol, and 12.7% in England (Hassiotis, 2020). The under 75 years mortality as a result of cancer per 100,000 people in South Bristol was recorded at 150.6 and Bristol at 159.7. The data provided over the above statistics comprises of Lower-layer Super Output Area, a small geography of South Bristol comprising around 1,500 residents with around 650 households, and utilization of the 2021 census from the ONS office for National Statistics.
Differences with other Localities
South Bristol records high rates of need for social care services, including mental health support, indicating the presence of contributing factors. The low socioeconomic status of many families or households is a contributing factor limiting many from accessing quality life, including in meeting day-to-day expenses, hence subjecting them to stress and depression. Statistics indicate there are higher rates of temporary households in South Bristol compared to other regions of Bristol or England. Temporary households are associated with many health-impacting factors, including inadequate food and low dietary choices (Gross et al., 2019). Healthcare services or resources are limited in South Bristol compared to other localities in Bristol or England as a whole. Limited access to healthcare facilities delays treatments, resulting in prolonged disease progress, leading to poor health outcomes among the residents.
Education is another major determinant of health outcomes. South Bristol encounters lower education attainment levels among youths than other regions or neighboring localities. Inadequate access to education contributes to poor health promotion initiatives, resulting in unhealthy habits and a lack of physical exercise. It supports the failure of smoking cessation programs in the area, recording a high number of smokers, including pregnant women. The locality comprises a mix of ethnic groups, leading to diverse cultural practices where some are unhealthy or contribute to poor health outcomes. Gender in the locality comprises a high percentage of females compared to males, hence exposing the region prone to a high number of diseases prone to females in comparison to men, like reproductive diseases. Environmental factors in South Bristol vary from the neighboring where some households are located to places with poor water quality and limited food access.
Pertinent health statistics
There are two pertinent health statistics essential in South Bristol, including high smoking rates and high prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight. Based on statistics data presented from South Bristol, evidence highlights that there are high rates of childhood obesity in comparison to Bristol or the entire England (Hassiotis, 2020). Various factors behind the higher numbers include limited access to nutritious, affordable food from specific neighborhoods, especially those from highly dense populations, and socioeconomic disparities impacting their dietary choices. A higher percentage of children brought up from poor or low socioeconomic status families are likely to face overweight or obesity cases due to poor dietary choices. There are also challenges towards promoting or attaining better physical activities where some areas in the locality encounter inadequate recreational spaces for the children.
Smoking rates among adults in South Bristol are higher than in England or Bristol. The result can be attributed to various factors like socioeconomic challenges, historical patterns of tobacco application in the area, and limited success in encouraging and implementing programs focused on smoking cessation. The region encounters high rates of smoking-associated illnesses, including cancers, leading to a higher burden in the provision of healthcare services in the locality. Tobacco use in the locality is higher than in neighboring localities, including other parts of Bristol (Gross et al., 2019). The statistics indicate high rates of active smoking among maternity mothers during delivery. Smoking during pregnancy also contributed to complications in delivery, like high mortality rates during birth, explaining the reason behind the high percentage of mortality rates in South Bristol in comparison to other localities.
Explanation
The higher rates of childhood overweight and obesity in South Bristol explain the effect of poor socioeconomic factors on health outcomes. Certain regions with South Bristol encounter economic challenges leading to poor access to nutritious and fresh food. It is also important to acknowledge that the higher density of fast-food outlets in specific neighborhoods is attributed to unhealthy food or dietary habits among the region’s children. Abscess of accessible or safe recreational spaces imposes a significant challenge in promoting children’s physical activities. Effectively addressing and solving children’s overweight and obesity in South Bristol requires a multifaceted approach involving urban planning techniques in setting spaces for children’s outdoor activities, community-based initiatives, and nutritional education.
High rates of smoking among South Bristol adults result from a combination of the historical patterns of use of tobacco, economic challenges, and failure of smoking cessation-based programs. Tobacco use imposes deep-rooted socioeconomic and cultural ties; hence, it is essential to initiate culturally sensitive programs or initiatives (Thornton & Persaud, 2018). Socioeconomic disparities also contribute to higher rates of smoking, where people facing economic challenges may view smoking as an effective coping mechanism. It is essential to initiate successful measures targeted at reducing smoking, including implementing comprehensive programs on tobacco control, support services towards smoking cessation, and initiating community outreach on smoking cessation.
Part Three: Role of the nurse
Understanding various health determinants is fundamental to a nurse’s functions as a health promoter. Nurses act as the main advocators towards achieving health equality and are responsible for addressing various social determinants and implementing effective preventative strategies or measures. In South Bristol, nurses play a vital role in bridging gaps in healthcare provision, promoting health literacy through educating the public on smoking cessation and other necessary health measures, and closely collaborating with community resources to solve various health issues the society faces. Through tailoring interventions specific to the community needs, the nurses can effectively contribute to breaking health disparities cycles in society.
The higher rates of health challenges in South Bristol indicate demand for a multifaceted and proactive response from the healthcare providers, with nurses providing a critical role in the locality through addressing specific health needs. Nurses in the locality foster a collaborative approach with the community in addressing the root causes of the various health disparities, including cessation of tobacco use. In the context of overweight and high rates of obesity in children, nurses act as promoters and educators of preventive health strategies (Kim et al., 2020). They play a vital role in implementing community-centered initiatives by closely working with various local schools, community organizations, and parents to implement nutrition education programs. Nurses can collaborate with public health agencies to engage in campaigns to raise awareness of healthy eating.
Nurses play a vital role in policy changes, advocating those that promote health equality. By collaborating with various local authorities and policymakers in South Bristol, nurses can contribute to developing effective initiatives to minimize socioeconomic disparities. Nurses are also well-suited to solving mental health issues within the locality. The nurses can collaborate with various mental health services, schools, and community organizations to implement mental health awareness initiative programs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, by exploring health, wellness, and illness and delving into various determinants of health over lifespan, the paper has provided a simple and comprehensive understanding of various complexities associated with healthcare. The paper has explored the South Bristol locality to understand various health disparities and challenges encountered by residents, including reasons behind the high rates of overweight children, mental health issues, and smoking among adults. Nurses play a crucial role in health promotion by serving as care providers, educators, advocators, and community leaders. Nurses play a critical role in addressing the root of health inequalities and promoting health equality by implementing health education, policy advocacy, and community engagement. Nurses in South Bristol can highly facilitate in implementing culturally sensitive initiatives that solve the population’s unique needs.
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