Key Determinants

When analyzing a public health problem, it is important to consider the key determinants that cause the issue. In the case of my final paper, which examines racial disparities in infant mortality rates, it is especially important to consider the wide array of factors that could cause infant mortality to occur so much more frequently in the black population than in the white. In this blog, I will discuss many of the factors that may contribute to this disparity. Since this blog is mostly a thinking exercise, meant to provide many possible intervention points, I will not fully describe to what extent each factor contributes to the problem. This will be done in my final paper. Key determinants can be divided into many categories. I will describe the determinants of racial infant mortality disparities in terms of these categories.

Biological Determinants: Genetics, body type, age

Developmental Determinants: conditions of both mother and child's development, was mother educated about safe sex practices? did mother's first sexual contact occur at a young age? did child progress to developmental goals in a timely manner (both in utero and after birth)?

Environmental Determinants: pollution, exposures in urban areas vs. suburban vs. rural, access to affordable health care, distance from closest health care center

Social and Cultural Determinants: cultural beliefs about where children should sleep, cultural customs regarding the necessity of childcare, age of first child, education

Economic Determinants: Socioeconomic status, hospital conditions, affordability of health care, affordability of cribs, proper nutrition, and vitamins

Political Determinants: availability of services, resources allocated to prevent disparities

Behavioral Determinants: Crib use, pre-natal doctor's visits, pre-natal vitamin use, child's sleep customs, healthy eating habits

All of these determinants are a very good point from which to design the intervention I will be discussing in my paper. Now its time for me to get back to my paper! It's due next week.