Unit 8 – Promoting Public Health
Learning aim B: Examine the factors affecting health and the impact of addressing these factors to
improve public health
As part of the assignment, I will identify the factors influencing health and the impact of addressing
these factors on public health. There are numerous factors that influence health, and I will address
several of them and explain them in further detail.
P3-Explain factors affecting current patterns of health and ill health in a specific demographic area.
M2-Assess the extent to which factors affect current patterns of health and ill health with reference
to a specific demographic area.
Factors affect health
Socioeconomic factors:
It has been proven that social and economic backgrounds play an effect on an individual’s health,
wellbeing, and overall life expectancy. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), individuals’
health and wellbeing are influenced by the conditions they were born and raised in, where they live,
work status and age. A person’s lack of income, power and resources can also affect their health and
wellbeing. These social and economic factors can put a person's health and wellbeing at danger and
can create inequities within and between countries.
Factors linked to socioeconomic status such as employment, social class, income bracket and poor
education are hugely involved in predicting health outcomes. Individuals either living in poverty or
near the poverty line are likely to have problems or lower rates of access to healthcare facilities and
utilization. They are likely to have lower levels of
overall health compared to those with a higher
socioeconomic status.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS),
people who live in deprived areas have a shorter life
expectancy. “Males living in the most deprived areas
could expect to live 74.1 years, compared with 83.5
years in the least deprived areas.” This is nearly a
decade difference in life years. And “Females living
in the most deprived areas could expect to live 78.7
years, whereas females in the least deprived areas
could expect to live 86.4 years.” Here is a difference of almost eight years.
This data is collected from people living in London between the years of 2017-2019. Although
females live longer on average than males, the gap between female and male life expectancy
reduces when the level of deprivation decreases. For example, in the most disadvantaged areas, the
difference in life expectancy between males and females is 4.6 years. In the advantaged areas this
decreases to 2.9 years. Understanding and acting on this information can help fulfil health needs and
increase overall wellbeing.
Environmental factors:
Learning aim B: Examine the factors affecting health and the impact of addressing these factors to
improve public health
As part of the assignment, I will identify the factors influencing health and the impact of addressing
these factors on public health. There are numerous factors that influence health, and I will address
several of them and explain them in further detail.
P3-Explain factors affecting current patterns of health and ill health in a specific demographic area.
M2-Assess the extent to which factors affect current patterns of health and ill health with reference
to a specific demographic area.
Factors affect health
Socioeconomic factors:
It has been proven that social and economic backgrounds play an effect on an individual’s health,
wellbeing, and overall life expectancy. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), individuals’
health and wellbeing are influenced by the conditions they were born and raised in, where they live,
work status and age. A person’s lack of income, power and resources can also affect their health and
wellbeing. These social and economic factors can put a person's health and wellbeing at danger and
can create inequities within and between countries.
Factors linked to socioeconomic status such as employment, social class, income bracket and poor
education are hugely involved in predicting health outcomes. Individuals either living in poverty or
near the poverty line are likely to have problems or lower rates of access to healthcare facilities and
utilization. They are likely to have lower levels of
overall health compared to those with a higher
socioeconomic status.
According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS),
people who live in deprived areas have a shorter life
expectancy. “Males living in the most deprived areas
could expect to live 74.1 years, compared with 83.5
years in the least deprived areas.” This is nearly a
decade difference in life years. And “Females living
in the most deprived areas could expect to live 78.7
years, whereas females in the least deprived areas
could expect to live 86.4 years.” Here is a difference of almost eight years.
This data is collected from people living in London between the years of 2017-2019. Although
females live longer on average than males, the gap between female and male life expectancy
reduces when the level of deprivation decreases. For example, in the most disadvantaged areas, the
difference in life expectancy between males and females is 4.6 years. In the advantaged areas this
decreases to 2.9 years. Understanding and acting on this information can help fulfil health needs and
increase overall wellbeing.
Environmental factors:
