Week 6 Activity Post


As a student studying public health, I am extremely familiar with the social determinants of health.  In Kenya, a developing country, they face a lot of challenges such as housing, transportation, culture, access to health care, etc. Unlike in a developed country, where these are not as big of an issue, Kenya has a pile of issues which builds up a barrier for people to stay healthy. In a developed country, these determinants are not as prominent or we do not face as many at the same time. But in Kenya, especially rural Kenya, this causes a major problem for many. It also builds a barrier to coming up with solutions to public health problems because professionals have more issues to address. As we have learned, you cannot just cure the disease. The main goal of public health is prevention. Prevention is made difficult when you face many social determinants. When it comes to Reproductive Healthcare access in Kenya, I noticed the biggest social determinants of health are transportation. The World Health Organization discusses the issue of transportation in the views of a developed country. They discuss how we can use healthy modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, etc. (WHO) But, the issue Kenya faces with transportation is between city and rural areas. Kenyans face difficulties accessing clinical care as it is offered in larger cities and rural areas have no access to transportation to get there. Lack of transportation can have a significant impact on health and on the ability to make healthy lifestyle choices, such as regular physical activity, access to healthcare, access to steady, well-paying jobs, and ability to purchase healthy foods. (ASTHO)  When it comes to Reproductive Healthcare access, women lack the resources to be able to travel to hospitals and clinics. When complications happen when giving birth in rural communities, it is difficult to transfer women to hospitals in a timely manner. Also, being able to travel for checkups can be extremely expensive for women. In a study looking at the relationship of Public transport and health outcomes in rural sub-Saharan Africa, they conclude the following, “ Transport and health relationships in places such as rural sub-Saharan Africa are further complicated by the fact that there is such significant potential for positive health outcomes attributable to transport through enhanced access to healthcare, education, commerce, etc. “ ( Jones) The study acknowledges the correlation between transportation and public health in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. If these populations had better access to transportation, their overall well being would increase. Rural populations are at a bigger risk without access to proper nutrition or health care. This causes a greater risk for women of reproductive age, as these things can affect fertility and family planning methods. Overall, transportation is a main social determinant of health in Kenya relating to Reproductive Healthcare access. It is a focus to try and improve public health in rural Kenya.

“New Social Determinants of Health Reference Guide Released.” National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. Accessed August 10, 2019. https://nosorh.org/new-social-determinants-of-health-reference-guide-released/.

Jones, Steven, Moses Tefe, Samwel Zephaniah, Elsa Tedla, Seth Appiah-Opoku, and Joe Walsh. “Public Transport and Health Outcomes in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa – A Synthesis of Professional Opinion.” Journal of Transport & Health3, no. 2 (2016): 211–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2015.12.005.

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