Research Article

The Social Determinants of Health in Military Forces of Iran: A Qualitative Study

Table 3

Social determinants of health in the military forces from the perspective of studied experts.

ThemesMain concepts (categories)Related subconcepts (subcategories)

General social determinants of healthPhysical environmentEnvironmental pollution/geographical conditions
Global conditionsInternational sanctions and domineering superpowers/global health policies
Civil social determinants of the society (context, structural and intermediate factors)Sociopolitical sovereignty and leadership/macroeconomic policies/social policies: labor, land, and housing/public policies of the government: education, health, transportation, agriculture, and so forth/culture, social values, and customs of the society/socioeconomic status of the military forces in the society/support and preventive institutions of the society/demographic and social factors/psychological factors in the society/events, crises, and disasters and accidents/early childhood periods/national health system

Military social determinants of healthThe sovereignty of God and religious ruleGod and monotheistic worldview/personal knowledge, beliefs, and doctrines
The spirituality promotion policiesSpiritual promotion/system of values and competencies
Regional and international military factorsChanges and security threats in the region/patterns of interaction and confrontation with superpowers/diplomacy of military foreign relations
Military command and managementStewardship of the military forces’ health/commander’s characteristics/the content of the policies and commands
Military defense and security policiestechnology and weapons policies/the doctrine of combat readiness and power/security and defense missions/knowing the enemies/professional military jobs
Military social protection policiesLiving improvement policies/insurance/housing/welfare services for the employees/specific and vulnerable groups
Military public and supply policiesLogistics and nutrition/human resources management/training and empowerment/military health management/coordination and support/physical activity and fitness/engineering and construction
Culture and values of the military organizationOrganizational culture/military regulations/personal beliefs
Military sociodemographic factorsGender and racial factors/demographic variables (including age and experience)/culture and family roots (including ethnicity)
Military skills and educationInitial training/in-service empowerment/health literacy/education
Conditions of the military jobsType and nature of job/military missions/type of military forces and organization/job difficulties and limitations
Organizational and job positionSocial and organizational status/employee, clump, and field duty/opportunities for organizational and job promotion/job security and satisfaction/salary and livelihoods
Social and organizational capital and cohesionPersonal relationships and organizational affiliation/cultural and regulatory institutions in the organization/social groups
Social and organizational supportSupporting institutions in the organization/specific groups/family support institutions
Amenities and facilities of the working environmentIndividual requirements/health, sports, and recreation infrastructures/environment and tools safety
Conditions of the military forces’ living environmentFamily health/life needs/access to services
Biological and psychological factorsIndividual constitutional actors/occupational injuries and pathogens/climate and ecological conditions/stress
Military forces’ lifestylenutrition/sports and physical fitness/healthy social relationships/high-risk behavior/belief and spiritual health/mental health/occupational health
Military health systemEquitable access to the health services (geographical, technological, financial, etc.)/military primary health care/interactions within the military health system/comprehensive monitoring of military forces’ health/policymaking on and designing the interventions/structures and processes of the military health system