Health is influenced by many factors, including:
1. Genetics
2. Behavior
3. Environmental and physical influences
4. Medical care
5. Social determinants of health
What are social determinants of health (SDoH)? The conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play and pray.
SDoH have a major impact on people’s health, well-being and quality of life. Examples of SDoH include:
· Economic stability — job opportunities and income
· Neighborhood and physical environment — safe housing, transportation, physical activity opportunities and walkable neighborhoods
· Education — access to early childhood education, higher education and vocational training
· Food — access to healthy food options
· Community and social context — support systems, communities free of discrimination and racism
· Healthcare system — health coverage, provider availability, health information and services that are culturally relevant, and quality of care
SDoH contribute to health disparities.
What Are Health Disparities?
Health disparities are a measure of differences in health outcomes between populations. They affect groups of people who have faced barriers to health based on:
- Race
- Religion
- Socioeconomic status
- Gender
- Age
- Mental health
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- Geographic location
Taking steps to address social determinants of health and measuring health disparities are the keys to achieving health equity.
What Is Health Equity?
Health equity is leveling the playing field to remove health disparities so everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Addressing social determinants of health –> Reduction in health disparities –> Greater health equity
Encouraging Health Equity
Governments, communities and healthcare providers can all work toward greater health equity for all through:
- Policy changes
- Education on racism and bias
- Increased investment in community health resources
- Listening to women’s lived experiences
- Working on models of healthcare to encourage trust between providers and patients
This resource was created with support from PhRMA.
