Social Determinants of Health and Development

Assignment Brief

Development issue

Consider a current development issue about which you wish to learn more, you may choose something related to our course or from the wider array of issues faced by peoples in the Global South, including housing, food security, agricultural production, education, health and medicine, the environment, economic disparity, entrepreneurs and innovation, or many other fields (feel free to check in with the instructor about a topical interest or a geographic place you may wish to pursue further, I generally encourage students to start narrow, with specific situations or issues)

The paper will be divided into two portions:

1. a reporting on the situation
2. a proposal for bettering the issue.

Part A will generally be a reporting of the current situation. Toward this, first, explain the overall issue, the background. Second, consider who is primarily impacted and who else, what other parties might be involved, people or groups that have some role, whether positively or negatively affecting the situation. Typically there will be a number of different parties and I encourage you to ‘map’ out the multiple actors into a single diagram, who these people or groups are and how they inter-relate to each other.

I encourage you to include this ‘actor map’ as part of the paper. Third, determine the structural components, what institutions or systems (policies, laws, regulations, financial relationships) perpetuate the problem. Consider a current development issue about which you wish to learn more, you may choose something related to our course or from the wider array of issues faced by peoples in the Global South, including housing, food security

For part B, consider an approach to this issue that you might propose in order to alleviate or help solve it, while you are not expected to solve the world’s problems in the brief 10 weeks of our course, I would like you to start thinking through what solutions might look like. You will not be graded on how correct your answer is, but you should be both creative yet logical with your answer; your answer should remain within the realm of the possible and do think about what challenges might need to be overcome to make your answer feasible. To help you think about the solution, use your ‘actor map’ as a guide: what relationships between the various parties might need to be reconfigured to bring about greater equity? And then looking at the structural issues, what might be necessary at a regulatory or institutional level to alleviate this problem?

Your answer might take into account stakeholders, policies, political or economic factors, or other concerns. Papers will be assessed according to the logic of the argument as well as the completeness of the evidence gathered in support of the argument. In assessing papers I look for a clear articulation of the problem, a road-map that lays out your overall paper, sufficient research to be able to provide details to the problem, analysis of the problem which is then marshaled as toward your argument for a solution , and a conclusion that aligns with the evidence and trajectory of your paper. Grading is qualitative, asking such questions: is your argument clear? is it rational? is the content organized? have you established alignment from the problem, through the research, into the evidence collected, analysis of the evidence, and to your conclusion? Is your evidence well-integrated in the argument of the essay? is your wording and phrasing accurate toward conveying the meaning you intend? is your writing clear, concise, and composed with care?

Because you are seeking new paths for mitigating long-vexing issues, creativity is a key element to your paper; in the assessment I will consider your creativity in framing the solution. Feel free to discuss your topic and approach with me during regular office hours. Include citations for all consulted materials (using any generally accepted citation format).

Sample Answer

Social Determinants of Health and Development

Access to clean water remains one of the most pressing social determinants of health in the modern world. Nowhere is this challenge more pronounced than in rural Sub-Saharan Africa, where millions of people still live without reliable and safe water supplies. Water is fundamental not only for survival but also for broader social and economic development. Its absence magnifies inequalities, exacerbates poverty, and undermines efforts to improve public health outcomes. Examining this issue reveals the deep connections between social determinants of health, structural inequalities, and long-term development.

The absence of clean water directly influences health outcomes, particularly in rural communities. Unsafe or contaminated water sources contribute to widespread diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid, all of which disproportionately affect children. For example, diarrhoeal diseases remain a leading cause of child mortality across Sub-Saharan Africa, a reality directly linked to the consumption of unclean water. Moreover, poor water quality undermines maternal health, with women exposed to infections during pregnancy and childbirth in settings where hygiene cannot be maintained. Thus, water scarcity is not simply an environmental issue but a driver of preventable illness and death.

At the same time, water access is closely tied to gender inequality. In many rural regions, women and girls bear the responsibility of collecting water, often walking long distances to reach wells or rivers. This daily burden consumes time that could otherwise be spent in education, employment, or childcare, effectively limiting opportunities for empowerment and economic participation. Girls are particularly disadvantaged, as household responsibilities can force them out of school. The cycle is self-perpetuating: limited education leads to reduced earning potential, which in turn sustains poverty and dependence. Water, therefore, becomes both a social determinant of health and a barrier to gender equality.

Economic development is also impeded by limited access to clean water. Communities without reliable water supplies struggle to engage in agriculture, which remains the primary livelihood in many rural areas. Irrigation systems cannot function, crop yields remain low, and food insecurity persists. Additionally, frequent illness caused by unsafe water reduces productivity and increases healthcare costs, leaving families trapped in cycles of debt and vulnerability. For governments, the economic consequences are equally significant, as resources are diverted towards treating preventable diseases rather than building sustainable infrastructure or education systems.

Addressing the problem requires more than simply drilling wells or constructing boreholes; it demands structural change rooted in equity and sustainability. International organisations and governments have launched numerous initiatives to expand access, but success has been uneven. Projects often fail because of poor maintenance, lack of community ownership, or insufficient long-term funding. What is needed is a holistic approach that integrates clean water provision with education, health systems, and community development. For example, empowering local communities to manage water resources ensures that infrastructure is maintained and adapted to specific cultural and environmental contexts. Likewise, linking water access to sanitation and hygiene programmes maximises the health benefits and reduces the spread of disease.

Continued...