Female, 30 years old, with uncontrolled Diabetes, Single Mother of 3 Children (female 2yrs, male 5yrs, male 13 yr.), patient is undocumented with no insurance coverage. The patient stated that she has been struggling to purchase enough food for her family in the last 3 months. Pt works full time and receives cash payments. Uses public transportation, Spanish Speaking. What social determinants is she having trouble with?
Based on the information provided, the patient is facing multiple social determinants that are impacting her ability to meet the basic needs of her family. Social determinants of health refer to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and include factors like socioeconomic status, education, employment, social support, and access to healthcare. In this case, the patient is facing challenges in several areas.
1. Socioeconomic status: The patient’s socioeconomic status is a significant determinant of her ability to access resources and improve her health outcomes. Being a single mother and undocumented with no insurance coverage puts her at a disadvantage in terms of income and financial stability. The fact that she works full-time but receives cash payments suggests that her employment may be in the informal sector, which often lacks job security, benefits, and legal protections. This limits her ability to secure stable income and financial resources.
2. Employment: While the patient is working full-time, the fact that she receives cash payments indicates that she may be employed in an informal job, which can be precarious and unpredictable. Informal workers often face challenges in terms of employment stability, fair wages, and access to benefits such as health insurance. The lack of insurance coverage further compounds her vulnerability, as she may struggle to afford necessary healthcare services and medications for her uncontrolled diabetes.
3. Access to healthcare: Being undocumented and lacking insurance coverage significantly hampers the patient’s ability to access healthcare services. Without insurance, the cost of medical consultations, medications, and treatment for her diabetes may be prohibitive, leading to uncontrolled diabetes. This puts her at a higher risk of developing complications associated with diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, and vision issues. Additionally, language barriers may further impede her access to appropriate healthcare services, as she is a Spanish speaker and may struggle to communicate effectively with healthcare providers.
4. Food insecurity: The patient has expressed that she has been struggling to purchase enough food for her family in the past three months. Food insecurity is a social determinant of health that refers to the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food. In this case, the patient’s financial constraints and limited resources likely contribute to her difficulties in accessing sufficient food for her family. This can have detrimental effects on her and her children’s health, leading to poor nutrition, malnourishment, and other related health problems.
5. Social support: As a single mother, the patient may face additional challenges in terms of social support. It is not mentioned whether she has a support network or access to services that could provide assistance. Social support plays a significant role in buffering the negative impacts of stressful situations and can provide emotional, practical, and financial assistance. Lack of social support can exacerbate the challenges faced by the patient and further contribute to her difficulties in addressing her social determinants of health.
In summary, the patient is facing multiple social determinants of health that are interconnected and impacting her well-being. These include socioeconomic status, employment instability, lack of insurance coverage and access to healthcare, food insecurity, and limited social support. Addressing these determinants requires a comprehensive approach that considers the patient’s unique circumstances and provides support in multiple areas, including income stability, access to healthcare, and social support networks.