Global Health & Society
Global health is characterized by health across national
boundaries, relevant to health practices and customs, as well as policies and systems in
comparison between countries. Thus, addressing the differences rather than
similarities among countries. International health involves encouraging social
development to obtain optimal health by emphasizing socioeconomic,
environmental and cultural factors of the causes of various diseases. An
awareness of global health helps to create sensitivity and understanding
towards cultural diversity. Awareness of global health aims to encourage health
professionals to roam globally by working in international settings for
communities with increased poor health conditions.
Global health care education is extremely significant when
examining global health because it focuses on preparing students to work in
various cultural settings and learn about other health care systems, which
exist worldwide. It also brings awareness about existing inequalities that
negatively affects the health of populations residing in developing countries
as well as populations residing in marginalized communities within developed
countries.
MARGINALIZATION GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION EPIDEMIOLOGY
DEMOGRAPHY PUBLIC HEALTH MEDICINE ECONOMY POLITICS
CLASS/RACE/ETHNICITY MALARIA AIDS HEALTH CONDITIONS & INTERVENTIONS
CULTURAL DIVISIONS AWARENESS OF GLOBAL HEALTH CHRONIC DISEASES
- THE HEALTH OF POPULATIONS IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
POLITICAL & ECONOMIC IMPACT ON HEALTH
PERSPECTIVES OF INDIVIDUAL NATIONS
PLACES A PRIORITY ON IMPROVING HEALTH WORLDWIDE
MEASURES LIFE EXPECTANCY, DISABILITY-ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS, QUALITY-ADJUSTED LIFE YEARS, INFANT AND CHILD MORTALITY, MORBIDITY, ETC.
Gender Roles
HOW DOES MY GENDER AFFECT MY HEALTH?
- It makes me worry about illnesses that target the female gender (such as: breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, etc).
- Due to ‘societal norms’ portrayed in the media about body image, dieting is seen as a commonality and often an obligation for women. Dieting as a societal norm could lead to eating disorders (such as: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, etc) which can be severely damaging to an individual’s health.
HOW DOES MY GENDER AFFECT MY RELIGION?
- Having to decide whether or not to use contraceptives (such as birth control), which is not encouraged in my religion.
HOW DOES MY GENDER AFFECT MY PERSONAL OPINION?
I believe that gender is often socially constructed...
Inequality in types of jobs (secretaries are typically female; construction workers are typically male, etc).
Gender divides work in the home and economic productivity; it identifies those in power and determines sexuality.
How men are supposed to act (being the breadwinner) and how women are supposed to act (having to cook, clean and take after the children).
"Boys wear blue; Girls wear pink"
Social Stratification: Men as a group have more status and power than women as a group; women are treated as “other”.
MEN MUST ACT "MASCULINE"
WOMEN MUST ACT "FEMININE"
TROUBLED MINDS
Having a relative suffering from a mental illness, I was able to speak with him on a very casual and comfortable level, and at the same time, carefully observe his actions and behavioural responses without any critical judgement. I decided to categorize his common behavioural patterns into two main categories: work problems and social problems. Nevertheless, a lot of the behavioural patterns can be categorized under both work problems and social problems. Mental illness is a mental behavioural pattern that causes suffering and difficulties around functioning in everyday life. Mental illnesses are often defined by a combination of how a person feels, acts, thinks, and responses. Common symptoms I observed from my cousin (suffering from schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder) included: inability to keep a job, inappropriate and random expressions, anger and blame, reliance on something comforting (cigarettes), clumsiness, frequent inability to finish a sentence that makes sense, and inability to stay in one place for too long.
FREQUENT WORK PROBLEMS:
- Frequent late arrivals
- Lack of cooperation and involvement
- Inability to get along with colleagues
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty remebering certain things
- Decreased productivity
- Expresses strange ideas
FREQUENT SOCIAL PROBLEMS:
- Inability to get along with others
- Constant complaints of fatigue
- Inability to stay in one place for too long
- Anxiety
- Display of anger
- Blurts out strange, often inappropriate things
- Relies on cigarettes (If he does not receive them, he will get very angry)
- Difficulty making decisions
- Often very clumsy
- Depression
- Oversleeping
- Extreme reaction to criticism
- Delusional
- Bi-polar
- Frequent mood changes
Dallas Buyers Club
Paula's Experience with Crohn's Disease
Paula loved travelling. She loved to meet new people, see new places and witness different cultural traditions. She called herself "The Travel Queen".
After returning home from 2 weeks in Dubai, she began experiencing severe abdominal pain and diarreah. She assumed these symptoms were due to certain foods she consumed in Dubai. She ignored the symptoms, thinking it would take a day or two of being home to feel back to normal.
The symptoms got worse. She had no appetite, a terrible fever, dehydration, constant diarreah and was experiencing rapid weight loss. She demanded to see a doctor immediately.
After numerous colonoscopies and biopsies, Paula's doctor stated she was suffering from a condition called Crohn's disease, simply known as an inflammatory bowel disease. "It is most common with people between the ages of 15-35", he stated. Paula stood there, shocked. She felt as though her heart stopped and her world was over. She never knew anyone suffering from this disease. She had never even heard about this disease.
Paula went from a girl who loved travelling, to a girl who did not want to leave her house. She stated, "I could hardly go out and enjoy life because I couldn't leave the bathroom." Paula was on and off different mediciations, including high dosages of prednisone (steroids). The prednisone didn't help very much. The symptoms were still unbearable.
After trying nearly every medication, Paula was prescribed pentasa, along with other medications. Finally, something had worked to reduce the pain and frequency of diarreah!
Paula went back to college and receieved a bachelor's degree in psychology. She is now a mental health councellor. Paula stated, "Never in my life have I let this brutal illness bring me down, and never in my life do I plan to." She still travels often.
York University: My Home Away From Home
1. Appletree Medical Centre
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGFY2c9K43U
"If you are sick and need to see a doctor, please check our wait timer for up to date wait times by visiting www.appletreetoronto.com. You can also request appointments online for Pap tests, Physicals, Travel Medicine, Vaccines, Well Baby, and Allergy Testing."
Phone: 647-722-2370
Monday 8:30am-7pm
Tuesday 8:30am-7pm
Wednesday 8:30am-7pm
Thursday 9am-7pm
Friday 8:30am-6pm
Saturday 10am-2:30pm
Sunday closed
2. Anders & Flynt
"A&F Opticians is a full service eye care practice located inside York Lanes. Our primary aim is to make available to the students, staff and faculty at York University, the very best in eye care service. Always a step ahead of today's fashion world, we strive to provide the greatest in designer eyewear and the latest in eye examination technology."
Phone: 416-663-8887
Email: york@andersandflynt.com
Monday 10am-6pm
Tuesday 10am-6pm
Wednesday 10am-6pm
Thursday 10am-6pm
Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday closed
Sunday closed
3. York Lanes Dental Office
"Motivated by a drive towards excellence, and stimulated by continuing education, we at York Lanes Dental Office seek to be a welcoming, caring and attending practice. We aim to care for you with the best treatment you are seeking. To do this we like to connect with you, educate you, and help you design the treatment plan that will suit your needs. We then commence our treatment using techniques that will create the right environment for you in order to have treatment in comfort."
Phone: 416-736-5038
Email: DENTAL@YORKUSMILES.CA
Monday 7:30am-9pm
Tuesday 7:30am-9pm
Wednesday 7:30am-9pm
Thursday 7:30am-9pm
Friday 7:30am-9pm
Saturday 9am-4pm
Sunday closed
4. Nutrition House
"Nutrition House is Canada's leading retailer for natural health products. Founded in 1979, we now operate in over 65 retail stores, located in high profile shopping centres across Canada, and in the USA. Our natural health product advisors can help you find thenatural health solutions that are right for you."
Phone: 416-736-5927
Email: yorku@nutritionhouse.com
Monday 9am-8pm
Tuesday 9am-8pm
Wednesday 9am-8pm
Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday 9am-6pm
Saturday 11am-3pm
Sunday closed
5. Berries and Blooms
"Berries and Blooms serves healthy and delicious meals that you'll feel great about eating! Try our popular fresh self-serve fruit, vegetable and salad bar."
Phone: 416-663-0030
Email: order@berriesandbloomscatering.com
Monday 7am-7pm
Tuesday 7am-7pm
Wednesday 7am-7pm
Thursday 7am-7pm
Friday 7am-7pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
Sunday 9am-5pm
6. Qoola Frozen Yogurt Bar
"At Qoola, we go au naturel and we're not embarrassed to admit it. Our fresh frozen yogurt is certified kosher, fat-free (no trans or saturated), and gluten free."
Phone: 416-661-6652
Email: york@qoola.com
Monday 10am-10pm
Tuesday 10am-10pm
Wednesday 10am-10pm
Thursday 10am-10pm
Friday 10am-9:30pm
Saturday 11am-8:30pm
Sunday 11am-8:30pm
7. Z-Teca Gourmet Burritos
"We use quality ingredients like whole wheat tortillas, all white chicken breast, locally made low-fat sour cream and Monterrey Jack cheese and premium Haas avocadoes. We roast our own tomatoes and tomatillos on premises daily for use in our freshly made salsas, and marinade our own meats for a guilt-free, healthy, nutritious and tasty meal."
Plenty of Vegetarian options also.
Phone: 416-877-6142
Email: elias@z-teca.com
Monday 8am-11pm
Tuesday 8am-11pm
Wednesday 8am-11pm
Thursday 8am-11pm
Friday 8am-11pm
Saturday 8am-9pm
Sunday 8am-9pm