ACCESS TO BASIC UTILITIES; ELECTRICITY

SDOH: ACCESS TO BASIC UTILITIES; ELECTRICITY 

SDOH: ACCESS TO BASIC UTILITIES; ELECTRICITY 

Access to Basic Utilities 

Inability to pay for, threat of shutoff and lack of access to utilities, namely electricity.  

Electricity is a basic utility everyone should be entitled to, but one in ten people worldwide do not have access to it (World Health Organization, 2030). Lack of access to electricity has been associated with many poor health outcomes including higher rates of mortality and morbidity and lower quality health care (Irwin et al., 2020). Access to electricity on the individual and community level can greatly impact health. Without access to electricity individuals have decreased ability to cook, clean, and maintain comfortable living temperatures (World Health Organization, 2023).  

Key Points and Links to Resources 

Health disparities come with electricity insecurity 

With a lack of electricity, there are implications to a patient’s health, hygiene, medication storage, or managing medical conditions that require electronic devices. 

Energy Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program

Psychosocial implications 

Without electricity, someone can be led to social isolation and mental health challenges. Nurses should be able to respond to these concerns by addressing different coping mechanisms for these stressors. Nurses should be knowledgeable with government assistance programs and community resources specific to utility insecurities 

Mobile Health Clinics

Nurse emergency care plan preparedness 

With a lack of electricity, there are implications to a patient’s health, hygiene, medication storage, or managing medical conditions that require electronic devices. 

Nurses can connect patients to Community Action Agencies

Nonprofit Organizations

Health disparities come with electricity insecurity 

With a lack of electricity, there are implications to a patient’s health, hygiene, medication storage, or managing medical conditions that require electronic devices. 

Energy Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program

Psychosocial implications 

Without electricity, someone can be led to social isolation and mental health challenges. Nurses should be able to respond to these concerns by addressing different coping mechanisms for these stressors. Nurses should be knowledgeable with government assistance programs and community resources specific to utility insecurities 

Mobile Health Clinics

Nurse emergency care plan preparedness 

With a lack of electricity, there are implications to a patient’s health, hygiene, medication storage, or managing medical conditions that require electronic devices. 

Nurses can connect patients to Community Action Agencies

Nonprofit Organizations

Health disparities come with electricity insecurity 

With a lack of electricity, there are implications to a patient’s health, hygiene, medication storage, or managing medical conditions that require electronic devices. 

Energy Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program

Psychosocial implications 

Without electricity, someone can be led to social isolation and mental health challenges. Nurses should be able to respond to these concerns by addressing different coping mechanisms for these stressors. Nurses should be knowledgeable with government assistance programs and community resources specific to utility insecurities 

Mobile Health Clinics

Nurse emergency care plan preparedness 

With a lack of electricity, there are implications to a patient’s health, hygiene, medication storage, or managing medical conditions that require electronic devices. 

Nurses can connect patients to Community Action Agencies

Nonprofit Organizations

References

Irwin, B. R., Hoxha, K., & Grépin, K. A. (2020). Conceptualising the effect of access to electricity on health in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review. Global public health, 15(3), 452–473. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2019.1695873

Lee, K., Miguel, E., & Wolfram, C. (2020). Does Household Electrification Supercharge Economic Development? The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 34(1), 122–144. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26873532 

Rural Electrification Act of 1936. (May 20, 1936, ch. 432, title I, §1, 49 Stat. 1363; 1939 Reorg. 

World Health Organization. (2023, June 6). Basic energy access lags amid renewable opportunities, new report shows. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/06-06-2023-basic-energy-access-lags-amid-renewable-opportunities--new-report-shows#:~:text=In%202010%2C%2084%25%20of%20the,2021%20compared%20to%20previous%20years. 

ACCESS TO BASIC UTILITIES; ELECTRICITY

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