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Health Policy Institute Focus Areas
DETERMINANTS OF
HEALTH
Identify
and address the economic, social, environmental, and behavioral
determinants that can lead to improved health outcomes.
This focus area is high priority
because many disorders are caused by multiple determinants of
health, only some of which are “biomedical factors.” Many of these
important determinants of health—behavior, social, environmental,
and economic—have not been adequately addressed as health issues.
And, many of them have an especially important impact on communities
of color.
Factors that are included in each of
these determinants of health are as follows:
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Behavioral - nutrition, smoking,
physical activity, substance abuse, risk-taking behaviors, and
sexual behaviors.
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Social - families, peers,
communities, social norms, and racism.
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Environmental - homes, workplaces,
air quality, water quality, sewage disposal, and noise.
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Economic - income, poverty,
employment, unemployment, and savings and other assets.
PREVENTION & HEALTH PROMOTION
Increase resource allocations for
disease prevention, health promotion, and the effective management
of chronic disease.
This focus area is a priority because health care by itself will
never be enough to ensure good health. When compared to white, many
minorities are disproportionately affected by multiple risk factors
and by preventable and chronic diseases caused by those risk
factors. For example:
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Diabetes: Twice the rate among minority groups
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Prostate cancer: Twice the death rate among black males
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INFANT
MORTALITY
Inform the policy and practice of
reducing infant mortality and improving child and maternal health
outcomes in communities of color.
This is a critical area of focus for the Health Policy
Institute since infant mortality rates continue to be an intractable
problem for the U.S., in general, and for minorities in this
country, in particular. African Americans still have relatively high
infant mortality rates. Teen pregnancy rates are also high for many
minority populations. African Americans have a higher rate of
single-parent families, headed primarily by women.
SUPPORTING
YOUTH
Reduce risk factors and support
healthy behaviors among children and youth of color.
This focus area is crucial since behavioral choices affect as many
as 40 percent of premature deaths in our nation. The rates of
obesity, already high for blacks and Hispanics, are increasing more
rapidly for those minority groups. Physical activity, which is
correlated with obesity, is pursued at a higher rate by white,
followed by Hispanics, and then blacks.
Tobacco initiation and use among youth is still high and so is
substance abuse, especially among some communities of color. And,
violence in some communities of color, especially in poverty
neighborhoods in inner cities, is unacceptably high.
MENTAL HEALTH
Improve mental health and reduce factors that promote violence in
communities.
This focus area is very important since for the millions of
adults and children who are overwhelmed by a few or many risk
factors, many get physically sick, but many others turn inward (in
depression) or lash out (in anger and violence). These emotional and
behavioral responses can lead to efforts to self-medicate, for
example, with food, alcohol, prescription drugs (leading to misuse),
and other drugs (leading to abuse). And, self-medication can lead to
or exacerbate other problems, such as obesity, addiction,
depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and physical ailments and
diseases.
HEALTHCARE
Optimize healthcare access and quality
in communities of color.
This is another critical area of focus for the Health Policy
Institute because despite the efforts of most people to stay
healthy, they do, often get sick and need health care. And,
minorities have poorer access to health care services and
third-party coverage. Seventy percent of white have workplace health
insurance, but only 50 percent of blacks and 45 percent of Hispanics
have such coverage.
HEALTHY AGING
Create conditions for
healthy aging and improve the quality of life for seniors.
This focus area is important since health and public health
policies, programs, and funding have tended to focus mostly on
children and the elderly. Focusing more intently on health aging in
the middle and the early stages of the later years of life may pave
the way for healthier adults and a higher quality of life for the
very elderly.
To create conditions for healthy aging and improve the quality of
life for the very elderly there is a need to focus especially on
such behaviors such as smoking, substance abuse, nutrition, physical
activity, and regular medical check-ups.
It is also important to recognize that supportive environments and
social norms, in communities that continue to provide meaningful
roles of those who are growing older, can also contribute to
healthier aging |
