The Effects of Chronic & Multiple Dis-advantage- the evidence is in but who is listening?

In the current global context the Social Determinants of Health (SD) model offers powerful insight into the effects of chronic and multiple dis-advantage on families and children. As Shute  & Slee (2026) have noted health and well-being are the result of multiple and interwoven determinants ranging from individual factors (biological, genetic, behavioural) to local resources and opportunities for health and well-being, to society-wide factors (environmental, cultural, socio-economic). Social determinants  are the factors, apart from medical care, influenced by  government social policies and which shape health in significant  ways. The term “social determinants”  relate to socio-economic factors such as income, housing affordability, education, neighbourhood  features such as parks and gardens, recreational access and availability  of  healthy food. In a ‘social determinants of health’ framework, health inequalities, social isolation and exclusion are understood as social injustices, rather than as products of individual dysfunction or deficit. The Solid Facts, a publication of the World Health Organization (Wilkinson & Mamot 2003), identifies from many thousands of research reports, ten important social determinants where action can be taken to reduce inequalities and improve health and well-being.

In a 2007  study of  ‘Families at Risk: the effects of chronic and multiple dis-advantage’ Slee & Murray-Harvey noted that young children’s (0-7 yrs) physical, developmental and emotional health was significantly impacted by poverty. The research also confirmed that parents in families with children with multiple problems were the most lonely and isolated with a poor social support network. Results indicated that families were twice as likely to report physical or developmental problems in their young children when unable to manage financially.

In order to achieve improved outcomes for ‘families at risk’ and young children living in those families, a paradigm shift is required so that unequal outcomes for families and children are seen as social injustices more than as products of individual dysfunction and deficit.

Lets heed the overwhelming research evidence calling for this shift.

For more details visit www.caper.com.au

References

Shute, R., & Slee, P.T. (2026). (3^rd Edt.). Child Development. Thinking about  theories, Routledge, Singapore

Slee ,P.T. & Murray-Harvey, R. (2007): Disadvantaged Children's Physical, Developmental and Behavioral Health Problems in an Urban Environment. Journal of Social Service Research, 33:4, 57-69

Wilkinson, R. & Marmot, M. (eds) (2003). The Solid Facts: Social Determinants of Health, 2^nd edn. World Health Organization, Copenhagen.