Social Determinants of Health Overview

Overview

This lecture explores the social determinants of health, their impact on health outcomes, and their role in creating health disparities.

Social determinants of health are environmental conditions where people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age.
Five key determinants: economic stability, neighborhood and built environment, health and health care, social and community context, and education.
Changes in these areas affect individual and societal health, justice, and equity.
Addressing behaviors alone does not eliminate health disparities caused by social determinants.

Economic stability refers to financial resources like income, employment, and housing security.
Socioeconomic status (SES) measures income, education, and occupation, and is a powerful predictor of disease and mortality.
Higher income correlates with lower rates of serious psychological distress.
Food security means having access to sufficient, nutritious foods; low food security is linked to higher rates of chronic diseases.

This determinant focuses on how location and environmental factors affect health and well-being.
Key issues include access to healthy foods, crime, pollution, and housing quality.
Many families are "cost burdened," spending more than 30% of their income on housing, impacting food security and healthcare access.
Air pollution is a major risk factor for diseases and premature death globally.

Relates to access to and understanding of health services, including primary care and insurance.
Lack of insurance or resources can delay care and result in unmet health needs and preventable hospitalizations.
Early and adequate prenatal care is often hindered by lack of insurance or money, impacting pregnancy outcomes.

Refers to the social networks and institutions impacting health, including social cohesion and discrimination.
Strong social cohesion supports healthy behaviors and better health outcomes.
Racial discrimination increases risk for negative mental and physical health, especially among minority youth.

Education is tied to health through employment opportunities, income, and access to health-promoting benefits.
Higher education levels correspond to higher income and better health resources; less education is linked to high-risk jobs and fewer benefits.
Health can also affect educational attainment (reverse causality), as poor health can lead to school absences and lower performance.
Contextual factors like family SES and home environment influence both health and education.

Social Determinants of Health — Conditions in environments that affect health, quality of life, and risks.
Socioeconomic Status (SES) — Combination of income, education, and occupation.
Food Security — Reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food.
Cost Burdened — Spending over 30% of income on housing.
Social Cohesion — Trust, belonging, and support among community members.
Reverse Causality — Health and education influencing each other.

Review provided references and recommended websites for further learning on social determinants of health.
Reach out to the lecturer with any questions.