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Social Determinants of Health

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Social determinants of health are social and economic living conditions that have significant effects on people's health. Examples of Social determinants of health (SDOH) are income, housing, employment, education, food insecurity and healthy child development. Income is often considered the most important SDOH.[1]

Lists of Social Determinants of Health

The local report: Addressing the Social Determinants of Health in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph: A public health perspective on local, health, policy and program needs provides information about this list of social determinants of health:
  • Low Income
  • Food insecurity
  • Transportation
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Immigrant Status
  • Social Supports
  • Healthy Child Development
  • Housing

Social Determinants of Health - The Canadian Facts outlines the importance of the following social determinants of health:

  • Stress, bodies, illness
  • Income and Income distribution
  • Education
  • Unemployment and Job Security
  • Employment and Working conditions
  • Early childhood development
  • Food insecurity
  • Housing
  • Social inclusion
  • Social safety net
  • Health services
  • Aboriginal status
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Disability

The interaction between social and economic living conditions and health is complex, with access to one social determinant of health impacting access to another. For example, level of income impacts the type of housing and food that you can afford. Education impacts your employment opportunities. Healthy childhood development influences your ability to succeed in school or make healthy social connections.

Lack of access to the social determinants of health leads to health inequities locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. Health inequity refers to differences in health that are not biological, but are the result of lack of access to living conditions and resources that promote and maintain good health. These differences in health are avoidable and can be addressed taking action to advocate for and implement public policies that support universal access to the social determinants of health.[1,2]

Promoting and supporting protective factors and preventing and treating adverse childhood experiences are also critical elements in building strong communities where everyone has the opportunity to be happy, to be healthy and to thrive.

References

[1] Mikkonen, J. & Raphael, D. (2010). Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts. Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management. Available at: http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf

[2] CSDH (2008). Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health. Final Report to the Commission on Social Determinants of Health.Geneva, World Health Organization. Available at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/43943/1/9789241563703_eng.pdf

[3] Mikkonen, J. & Raphael, D. (2010). Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts. Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management. Available at: http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf

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