Social determinants of health are the “conditions and environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age.” (ii) For public health initiatives to be most effective, all these conditions must be considered, weighed, and addressed by community and health leaders. The five social determinants of health domains are:
- Economic Stability
A person’s economic status can dramatically affect their health behaviors and risk for developing disease. The less financial stability an individual has, the more limited their opportunities will likely be for prioritizing and protecting their health.
- Food Insecurity
- Housing Stability
- Poverty
Public health efforts should take all these financial considerations into account when strategizing ways to decrease health risks in low-income communities.
- Education
Another significant social determinant of health closely related to economic stability is education.
Other educational barriers could involve: (iv)
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Enrollment in Higher Education
- High School Graduation
- Social and Community Context
A person’s community context and social environment can also substantially impact their health.
- Civic Participation
- Discrimination
- Social Cohesion
- Health and Health Care
- Neighborhood and Built Environment
Finally, the environment in which an individual lives plays a significant role in their health opportunities and barriers. A powerful example of this concept is food deserts.
- Crime and Violence
- Environmental Conditions
- Quality of Housing
All these location-specific factors need to be considered and addressed within successful public health programs.
Using SDOHs as a Framework for Public Health Initiatives
A broad perspective on all the different social determinants of health domains is necessary to develop effective public health initiatives. Public health leaders should look beyond singular health issues and instead view community health obstacles with a wider lens that takes a variety of barriers and limitations into account.
At AB Med, we provide innovative health care solutions for your community’s needs. We can help you develop, launch, and manage public health programs that address the social determinants of health most relevant to your needs. We would love to partner with you to keep your community healthy through strategic, expert-backed initiatives and health care problem-solving.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (n.d.). Social Determinants of Health – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov. [online] health.gov. Available at: https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health.
- health.gov. (n.d.). Social Determinants of Health Workgroup – Healthy People 2030 | health.gov. [online] Available at: https://health.gov/healthypeople/about/workgroups/social-determinants-health-workgroup.
- Healthypeople.gov. (2014). Employment | Healthy People 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/employment.
- Healthy people (2020). Social determinants of health. [online] Healthypeople.gov. Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-health.
- Healthypeople.gov. (2014). Language and Literacy | Healthy People 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/language-and-literacy.
- Hahn, R.A. and Truman, B.I. (2015). Education Improves Public Health and Promotes Health Equity. International Journal of Health Services, [online] 45(4), pp.657–678. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691207/.
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2014). Incarceration | Healthy People 2020. [online] Healthypeople.gov. Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/incarceration.
- Healthypeople.gov. (2014). Access to Primary Care | Healthy People 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/social-determinants-health/interventions-resources/access-to-primary
- National Research Council (US (2009). Summary. [online] Nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208018/.