Discuss one or more sociocultural factors in promoting health.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of sociocultural factors in promoting health.

Health promotion programmes are those initiatives designed to assist people in gaining control over and improving their own health. These may be public or government programmes, or may be privately sponsored. In addition, these programmes may be developed on an individual, local, national, or international level.

Relevant sociocultural factors may include, but are not limited to:

• the level of social support (e.g. an individualistic versus collective culture)
• peer-group pressure
• public attitudes toward health issues such as smoking
• body shape attitudes and cultural norms
• the influence of the media on health promotion
• attitudes within a culture toward “fear factors”.

Relevant studies include but are not limited to:

• Kreuter and Lukwago’s (2003) study of cultural appropriateness in health promotion programmes
• Wallerstein’s (1992) study on powerlessness and empowerment in health promotion programmes
• Resnicow et al.’s (1999) study on cultural sensitivity in public health
• Kalichman and Coley’s (1995) study on the role of cultural influence on health communication in relation to HIV
• Sepstrup’s (1999) study on the role of media in health promotion.

Critical discussion points may include, but are not limited to:

• methodological and ethical considerations
• social engineering (e.g. laws) versus health promotion programmes
• the effectiveness of health promotion programmes
• how the findings of research have been interpreted and applied
• assumptions on which health promotion programmes are based
• alternative contributing factors such as biological/cognitive factors (so long as the main focus is on sociocultural factors).

Candidates may discuss negative factors influencing promotion of health – for example discussing the impact of poverty, peer pressure, stigmatization or conformity/adherence to sociocultural practices/norms.

Responses referring to the influence of sociocultural factors on health issues (e.g. obesity, stress, addiction) are not acceptable and should not be awarded marks.

Although few candidates attempted this question, stronger candidates formed a good discussion of sociocultural factors in health promotion. Weaker candidates made a more general attempt, discussing health promotion in general.