Next: Identifying Priority Health Issues

 Identifying Priority Health Issues  SPPPC  S ocial justice principles, P otential for change, P riorty population groups, P revalence, C osts to the individual & community

 Social Justice Principles 

Social Justice is a value that favours measures that aim at decreasing or eliminating inequity; promoting inclusiveness and diversity; and establishing environments that are supportive of all. (PDHPE Syllabus, 1999)

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">Social Justice is a measure that facilitates equity. <span style="color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;">This involves 4 principles : PEAR

 P articipation - in planning and making decisions about community health</li>

 E quity - fair allocation of resources and entitlements without discrimination</li>

 A ccess - the ability to use a range of health services</li>

 R ights - equal opportunity to achieve optimal health</li>


 * <span style="text-decoration:underline;color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:inherit;line-height:1.2em;">Priority population groups 

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">Priority population groups are groups who have higher rates of morbidity and mortality rates of particular conditions. These include Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders who have higher rates of CVD, Cancer and Diabetes and a much lower life expectancy than other Australians.


 * <span style="text-decoration:underline;color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;">Prevalence of the condition 

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">Prevalence refers to the number of current cases of a disease or condition. Epidemiological data can be used to determine what diseases and conditions are most prevalent, which are improving or declining and can be used to determine funding priorities.


 * <span style="text-decoration:underline;color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;">Potential for change 

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:SegoeUI,LucidaGrande,Arial;line-height:19.5px;color:rgb(68,68,68);">The potential for change is considered when determining priority areas. By allocating resources to focus on a particular disease there needs to be the potential to minimise the extent of that illness. Eg: for cancer if we can get people to stop smoking we can have a big impact on the extent of cancer. This therefore has potential for change.


 * <span style="text-decoration:underline;color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:inherit;line-height:1.5em;">Costs to Individuals & community 

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:inherit;line-height:1.5em;color:rgb(68,68,68);">The cost to the individual refers to the physical (pain, discomfort, immobilisation), social (loss of social contact, increased dependance on others, loss of confidence), emotional (stress, depression, mental anguish) and spiritual cost (loss of meaning in life). Direct Costs: <span style="color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:inherit;line-height:1.5em;"> refer to the actual financial cost in relation to the illness. This includes identification and treatment.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:inherit;line-height:1.5em;color:rgb(68,68,68);"> Indirect Costs: refers to the total monetary cost realting to loss of productivity and earning and also carers having to take time off work etc. <span style="color:rgb(68,68,68);font-family:inherit;line-height:1.5em;">Cost to the community refers to the direct and indirect costs of a disease or condition to the community. These costs may include

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:inherit;line-height:1.5em;color:rgb(68,68,68);"> Direct: costs relating to testing, education, health promotion, funding to hospitals for treatment.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:inherit;line-height:1.5em;color:rgb(68,68,68);"> Indirect: loss of productivity for companies