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The Evolution of the Definition of Health

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McCartney, G., Popham, F., McMaster, R., & Cumbers, A. (2019). Defining health and health inequalities. Public health, 172, 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2019.03.023 

  • Illustrates how the definition of health has been refined over the years towards a less absolutist perspective to a more practical and sustainable perspective.

  • Featuring health definitions such as "achievement of a common standard and ideal outcome"; "experiential"; "the ability to function and participate"; "defined by determinants"; "an individual and population phenomenon"; "multidimensional"; "sustainable" and so on. 

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Canada and Social Determinants of Health

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Mikkonen, J., & Raphael, D. (2010). Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts. Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management. https://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf

  • The living conditions experienced by individuals will primarily shape health outcomes beyond medical treatments or lifestyle choices. 

  • Promoting health equity is a fundamental approach to improving health outcomes at multiple levels of health, from the individual to the societal level. 

  • 14 social determinants of health in Canada, including income and income distribution, education, unemployment and job security, employment and working conditions, early childhood development, food insecurity, housing, social exclusion, social safety net, health services, aboriginal status, gender, race, and disability, are identified.
     

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Raphael, D., Bryant, T., Mikkonen, J. and Raphael, A. (2020). Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts. Oshawa: Ontario Tech University Faculty of Health Sciences and Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management. https://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts-2nd_ed.pdf

  • The evolution of health definition and the social determinants of health over the years reflects the dynamic and relative nature of health

  • 17 social determinants of health, which included the 14 social determinants and 3 new social determinants - Geography, Immigration and Globalization.
     

The Population Health Promotion Model

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Government of Canada. (2001). Population Health Promotion: An Integrated Model of Population Health and Health Promotion. Canada. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/population-health-promotion-integrated-model-population-health-health-promotion/developing-population-health-promotion-model.html

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  • Health of individuals is a combined result of personal health practices and the impact of the physical and social environments these individuals interact with. 

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Defining Health: How Do Health and Disease Get Defined in Societies?

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Harvard University. (2014). Who Decides?: defining health. Harvard University Panel 2014. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwmCQ2kFLQQ 

  • Panel illustrates health through a social science lens, influence of gender on health

  • Variation in health expectations and outcomes in different societies.

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