If there are multiple Social Health determinants it only makes sense that trying to solve the problem of health equity in under served populations would require multiple lenses. This is where the socio-ecological model of health comes into play. The socio-ecological model is a theoretical framework that “considers the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). These factors can vary across geography, culture, and circumstance which allows for specialization while still considering complexities of individualism based on population as shown below (Unicef, 2017)
To further illustrate the different levels of the model, see the table below (Unicef, 2017).
A Description of Social Ecological Model (SEM) Levels.
Individual
· Characteristics of an individual that influence behaviour change, including knowledge, attitudes, behavior, self-efficacy, developmental history, gender, age, religious identity, racial/ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status, financial resources, values, goals, expectations, literacy, stigma, and others.
Interpersonal
Formal (and informal) social networks and social support systems that can influence individual behaviours, including family, friends, peers, co-workers, religious networks, customs or traditions.
Community
Relationships among organizations, institutions, and informational networks within defined boundaries, including the built environment (e.g., parks), village associations, community leaders, businesses, and transportation.
Organizational
Organizations or social institutions with rules and regulations for operations that affect how, or how well, for example, MNCH services are provided to an individual or group.
Policy/Enabling Environment
Local, state, national and global laws and policies, including policies regarding the allocation of resources for maternal, newborn, and child health and access to healthcare services, restrictive policies (e.g., high fees or taxes for health services), or lack of policies that require childhood immunizations.
If there are multiple Social Health determinants it only makes sense that trying to solve the problem of health equity in underserved populations would require multiple lenses. This is where the socio-ecological model of health comes into play. The socio-ecological model is a theoretical framework that “considers the complex interplay between individual, relationship, community, and societal factors” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). These factors can vary across geography, culture, and circumstance which allows for specialization while still considering complexities of individualism based on population as shown below (Unicef, 2017)
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, 06 17). Violence Prevention. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Maar, M., Wakewich, P., Wood, B., Severini, A., Little, J., Burchell, A., . . . Zehbe, I. (2016). Strategies for Increasing Cervical Cancer Screening Amongst First Nations Communities In Northwest Ontario, Canada. Health Care for Women International, 37, 478-495.
Unicef. (2017, 06 15). What are the Socio Ecological Model? Retrieved from Unicef.org: https://www.unicef.org/cbsc/files/Module_1_SEM-C4D.docx