Our health status is often a consequence of our age, inherited genetics, and behavioral decisions. However, there are other, often overlooked influences such as where we live, how much money we make, who we spend our time with, and the quality of our air, food, and water, which have major impacts on our overall health status. These “other” contributing factors are known as the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and, until recently, were left out of the health equation. Today, instead of being an afterthought, the SDOH are leading the conversation on how we can achieve both personal and population health.
What are the Social Determinants of Health?
As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) defines the SDOH as:
“The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national, and local levels. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities – the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.”
Essentially, these conditions are shaped by the amount of money, influence, and resources people have. An individual’s status can be affected by factors such as their education, occupation, or income. SDOH factors related to health outcomes include:
- Access to early childhood development resources
- Level and quality of education
- Ability to get and keep a job
- Occupation
- Access to nutritious foods
- Access to health services and the quality of those services
- Living conditions including secure housing, safe communities, clean water, and air
- Personal and household wealth
- Social norms and attitudes (including discrimination, racism, and distrust of government)
- Residential segregation (physical separation of races/ethnicities into different neighborhoods)
- Social and community resources and support
- Language and literacy
- Incarceration
- Culture (general customs and beliefs of a particular group of people)
- Access to mass media and emerging technologies (cell phones, connected devices, and the Internet)
How can addressing the SDOH improve physical and behavioral health?
Without addressing SDOH, it is nearly impossible to achieve health equity – where all people can reach their full health potential and no one is at a disadvantage because of their socially-determined circumstances.
Access to resources that enhance the quality of life can have a big impact on population health outcomes. Safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy foods, and local emergency and health services are critical to ensure health equity. Healthy People 2020 lists “social and physical environments that promote good health for all” as one of their four overarching goals for the coming decade.
Find CDC programs and tools to tackle SDOH
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continuously works to improve people’s lives by lowering the number of health injustices. Health organizations, institutions, and education programs are also urged to address underlying factors related to SDOH.
The CDC has a variety of programs that work across sectors such as housing, education, and transportation, and in partnership with communities to make a positive impact on health. All of their current initiatives can be found here.
Differences in health are striking in communities with excessive SDOH. By taking what we know about SDOH, we can improve individual and population health and advance health equity.
male enhancement products
prednisone 1 mg for sale buy prednisone online prednisone cream over the counter
ivermectin in dogs ivermectin lotion price ivermectin argentina
cost for ivermectin 3mg ivermectin for mange in foxes stromectol prices
buycialisonline purchasing cialis in the usa cialis cheaper
legal to buy prescription drugs without prescription prescription drugs pain meds without written prescription
prednisone where can i buy generic prednisone cost canada buy prednisone online
ivermectin horses ivermectin 0.5% brand name ivermectin cancer dose
buy cialis 20mg but cialis online cialis overnight shipping
how to get prescription drugs without doctor how can i order prescription drugs without a doctor non prescription erection pills
how to get prescription drugs without doctor canada ed drugs canada ed drugs
ivermectin horse paste tractor supply ivermectin uk buy stromectol ivermectin tablets
buy prescription drugs prescription drugs without doctor approval cat antibiotics without pet prescription
buy stromectol online ivermectin 2mg ivermectin paste for horses
cheap finasteride propecia price buy generic propecia
buy anti biotics without prescription how can i order prescription drugs without a doctor buy prescription drugs from india
legitimate online pharmacies india india pharmacies online pharmacy from india
trusted online canadian pharmacy reviews online pharmacies without prior prescription order prescriptions online without doctor
reputable online pharmacies in india india pharmacies online pharmacy from india
stromectol for sale stromectol pills for humans stromectol 3 mg tablets price
buy clomid 50mg buy clomid 50mg buy clomid 50mg online
stromectol for sale stromectol stromectol for sale
tadalafil 10mg price tadalafil cialis 20mg
cialis cialis 20 mg price where to buy liquid cialis
stromectol for humans for sale stromectol 3 mg tablets price stromectol for sale
stromectol for humans for sale stromectol 12 mg tablets ivermectin for goat lice
ivermectin lotion 0.5 stromectol tablets for humans ivermectin and alcohol
stromectol tablets for humans heartgard plus ivermectin pyrantel stromectol tablets for humans
viagra from canada sildenafil 100 mg 100mg viagra
cheap viagra online viagra tablets for men viagra over the counter
where can i buy viagra over the counter buy generic 100mg viagra online viagra price
wholesale cialis generic tadalafil 20mg india does cialis make you bigger
cialis for sale toronto tadalafil viagar vs cialis
cheapest cialis tadalafil 20 mg price of cialis 20 mg blak cialis
generic cialis next day delivery tadalafil without a doctor’s prescription 36 hour cialis mg
cialis no prerscription cialis pills cheap cialis free shipping
generic cialis bestelle tadalafil 20mg cialis store in philippines
order imitrex 25mg pills – brand sumatriptan 25mg sumatriptan 25mg tablet