Reference no: EM133618777

Problem: In order to bring about community and individual health behavior change, it is essential that the population and decision-makers are aware of the health disparities face by their communities. According to Gollust et al (2009) "In the United States, experts suggest that advocates use the media strategically to educate the public and policymakers about determinants of health other than medical care and health behaviors" (Gollust et al, 2009). Niederdeppe et all (2009) state, "the implicit assumption of these efforts is that public and political attention to the social determinants of health will lead to increased support for policy interventions to improve public health" (Niederdeppe et al, 2008). However, many studies have shown that associating social determinants of health such as poverty with specific populations and health conditions, at times backfires by creating prejudice towards that population group. What do you think about this issue? What are some advantages and disadvantages of using media for raising awareness about social determinants of health?