text: Army Health System Operations
  Table 4-1. Medical aspects of the operational variables (continued)
  Variable Subvariables Medical aspects
  Economic Economic diversity. The economic base can affect health care for both
  Employment status. the human and the animal populations in the nation.
  Economic activity. The types of injuries and health issues may vary
  significantly based upon whether it is an agricultural
  Illegal economic activity.
  society or an industrialized nation and/or region.
  Banking and finance. This affects the types of health care available
  including restorative and rehabilitative services and
  programs and the availability of health care to the
  populace.
  The gross national product and the per capita
  income of the population affect the availability of
  resources for the government to expend on public
  health concerns and health care in general.
  When the Army Health System planner examines the
  economic factors of a nation or region, it is important
  to determine what influence it has on how much
  money is expended in the health sector (both private
  and public) as this will affect health care, medical
  equipment, and pharmaceuticals availability.
  Social Demographic mix. Age, gender, and genetics affect how individuals are
  Social volatility. affected by disease and existing environmental
  factors.
  Education level.
  Religion affects how people view medical
  Ethnic diversity.
  intervention; it can affect how a person will comply
  Religious diversity. with medical treatment regimens and whether they
  Population movement. will accept recommended treatments (such as the
  use of blood transfusions).
  Common languages.
  Persons who are uprooted may be more susceptible
  Criminal activity.
  to disease because of lowered immunity status due
  Human rights. to fatigue, restricted food intake, poor living
  Centers of social power. conditions, inadequate shelters, and poor sanitation.
  Basic cultural norms and If public health and disease prevention programs are
  values. not instituted, the general health of the population or
  the affected subpopulation will decrease.
  Populations where education and literacy are not
  widespread will often have a lower standard of living,
  less appreciation for public health and disease
  prevention practices, less skilled workers, and be
  more difficult to reach with public health alerts and
  programs.
  Cultural, ethnic, and religious beliefs often influence
  who will seek medical care and who will not. Privacy
  issues may require that consideration of the
  provider’s gender is relevant in addressing women's
  health issues.
  Providers must be cautious in using graphic aids to
  communicate with their patients, as the explicit
  graphics may be considered offensive.