Everything evolves with time, and the definition of health should be no exception. The World Health Organization (WHO) first defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, n.d., para.1) in 1948 and has not provided an update or revision since.
When we are talking about global health and safety, I think it would be impossible to come up with a single definition that resonates globally. Since 1948 “global life expectancy has risen from approximately 48 to 71 years for men and 53 to 76 years for women” (Fallon & Karlawish, 2019, p 1105). With this increase comes a need to transform the way health is defined to include “living with multiple chronic conditions.” (Fallon & Karlawish, 2019, p 1105). Thanks to advancements in diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, surgical advancements, and disease management people are living long and fulfilled lives while managing chronic illness.
The social determinants of health (SDOH) made up of poverty, level of education, housing instability, food insecurity, lack of access to health care, and rural or urban geography (Torres, Karpmen & Mackie, 2023, p 140) are key indicators to determining health and are notably absent from the WHOs definition making it less relevant in today’s world. There is “overwhelming evidence highlighting the impact of SDOH on access to, quality of, and outcomes associated with care” (Torres, Karpmen & Mackie, 2023, p 141).
To better support global health, the WHO needs to update their definition to acknowledge inequity created by SDOH, “social, cultural, and environmental factors that impact health and behavioral health outcomes.” (Torres, Karpmen & Mackie, 2023, p 141) and to recognize health is different now as people continue to live longer both in health and while managing chronic disease.
References
Fallon, C. K., & Karlawish, J. (2019). Is the WHO Definition of Health Aging Well? Frameworks for “Health” After Three Score and Ten. American Journal of Public Health, 109(8), 1104–1106. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305177
Government of Canada. (2008) What is Health? Retrieved October 7, 2023 from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/population-health-approach/what-is-health.html
Torres, M. E., Karpman, H. E., & Mackie, T. (2023). Redefining Culture in the CANS Assessment Tool to Improve Assessment of the Social Determinants of Health. Child Welfare, 100(6), 139–163.
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions. https://www.who.int/about/frequently-asked-questions
Comments