Module Components

• Overview

Topics

• Ethics and Social Justice
• Social Determinants of Health
• Racial Injustice
• Global Inequality

NRSG 780 - Health Promotion and Population Health

Module 6: Social Justice and the Social Determinants of Health

Global Inequality

Review the WHO summary of key concepts for the social determinants of health available at http://www.who.int/social_determinants/thecommission/finalreport/key_concepts/en/

Health inequities are avoidable inequalities in health between groups of people within countries and between countries. These inequities arise from inequalities within and between societies. Social and economic conditions and their effects on people’s lives determine their risk of illness and the actions taken to prevent them becoming ill or treat illness when it occurs.

Global Inequities Example: Violence Against Women

Violence is widespread and growing in nearly all societies. It occurs in all settings: work, home, and in the community. It affects men and women of all ages but, most violence is perpetrated by men whatever the sex of the victim. Women are disproportionately the victims of violence.

Violence Against Women Defined

“Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty whether occurring in public or in private life” (WHO, 2013) Approximately 35% of  women worldwide  report physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. Violence is associated with short-and long-term physical and mental health problems for survivors and their children.

Review the WHO fact sheet on Violence Against Women available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs239/en/

ANA Position Statement on Nurse’s Role in Ethics and Human Rights

In January 2017 The American Nurses Association issued its Ethics and Human Rights Statement:  “Nursing is committed to both the welfare of the sick, injured, and vulnerable in society and to social justice.”  - This statement supports its 2016 revised position on The Nurse’s Role in Ethics and Human Rights: Protecting and Promoting Individual Worth, Dignity, and Human Rights in Practice Settings.  This statement is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 but goes beyond to address attention to duty, social justice and interdependence. It provides nurses with specific actions to protect and promote human rights in every practice setting. It describes the relationship between nurses’ ethical obligations, the concept of human rights and professional nursing practice.