Social determinants of health such as
poverty, unequal access to health care, lack of education, stigma, and racism
are underlying, contributing factors of health inequities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC
How do determinants of health impact health?
Social determinants of health reflect
the social factors and physical conditions of the environment in which people are born, live, learn, play, work, and age
. Also known as social and physical determinants of health, they impact a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes.
Social determinants
can strengthen or undermine the health of individuals
and communities. For example, in general, people from poorer social or economic circumstances are at greater risk of poor health than people who are more advantaged.
Different social determinants of health affect patient wellness
by limiting patient access to key health and lifestyle resources
. … The social determinants of health could affect whether a patient obtained and maintained wellness, regardless of the quality of care they would receive during a clinical encounter.
By contrast, the many social determinants of health play a much bigger role in influencing a person’s health, making up
80–90% of the contributing factors
.
Social determinants of health include factors like
socioeconomic status
, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks, as well as access to health care.
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are
conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play that affect a wide range of health and quality-of life-risks and outcomes
.
An understanding of social factors provides
invaluable insight into improving a patient’s health status for predicting negative outcomes
. Instances such as high-risk pregnancies, early hospital readmissions, poor compliance with prescribed medications, and susceptibility to chronic disease.
The groundwork for how we approach SDOH today can be traced to
the early 19
th
century
as a response to the Industrial Revolution when society saw significant increases in disease and poverty.
Social determinants of health, defined as the circumstances in which people live and work, have a
strong effect on an individual’s health outcomes
. … Through their interaction and advocacy for patients, nurses contribute to patient outcomes and population health management results.
Social and economic factors, such as
income, education, employment, community safety, and social supports
can significantly affect how well and how long we live. These factors affect our ability to make healthy choices, afford medical care and housing, manage stress, and more.
There is evidence that socioeconomic status (SES)
affects individual’s health outcomes and the health care they receive
. People of lower SES are more likely to have worse self-reported health,
5 , 6
lower life expectancy,
7
and suffer from more chronic conditions
8 – 11
when compared with those of higher SES.
Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life. Examples of SDOH include: Safe housing, transportation, and
neighborhoods
.
Racism
, discrimination, and violence.
Social determinants of health refer to a specific group of social and economic factors within the broader determinants of health. These relate to
an individual’s place in society
, such as income, education or employment.
- Income. Income, or how much money we have, can determine where we live, food we buy, and our recreational activities. …
- Education. …
- Social Connections. …
- Housing. …
- Food Security. …
- Building Capacity For Equity.
Income
is perhaps the most important social determinant of health. Level of income shapes overall living conditions, affects psychological functioning and influences health-related behaviours such as quality of diet, extent of physical activity, smoking and excessive alcohol use.
According to the CDC, it has been well-established that poverty inhibits access to healthy foods and safe neighborhoods, and that higher levels of education influence better health. … Negative social determinants of health can impact both an
individual’s knowledge about healthcare and resources
, and limit access to them.
How does socioeconomic factors affect health?
Factors linked to socioeconomic status, such as poverty and poor education, are hugely important
in predicting health outcomes
. … Comparatively, high blood pressure, obesity and high alcohol consumption were associated with fewer life years lost (1.6, 0.7 and 0.5 years, respectively) than low SES.
Describe how social support can affect health both directly and indirectly. Social support seems to have a direct effect on immune system functioning. Social support can affect health
indirectly by influencing health-related behaviors
, such as exercise and eating properly.
Healthcare providers can address social determinants of health through five approaches—
awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment, and advocacy
, according to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Some examples of social determinants include:
SES, work and unemployment
, social exclusion, stress, food security, early life experiences and access to health care/services.
Recognizing the importance of social determinants of health can help obstetrician–gynecologists and other health care providers better understand patients, effectively communicate about health-related conditions and behavior, and
improve health outcomes
.
Factors such as
socioeconomic position, conditions of employment, power and social support
—known collectively as the social determinants of health—act together to strengthen or undermine the health of individuals and communities (see ‘Social determinants of health in Australia’ in Australia’s health 2020: data insights …
What are four major factors that affect the health of a community?
- the social and economic environment,
- the physical environment, and.
- the person’s individual characteristics and behaviours.
Housing, social services, geographical location, and education
are some of the most common social determinants of health. These factors have a significant impact on the current healthcare landscape. As more healthcare organizations deliver value-based healthcare, they are developing strategies to drive wellness care.
Economic and social policies, political systems, and social norms all contribute
to creating the environments in which individuals thrive or experience challenges
, WHO says, leaving healthcare providers facing a complex and deeply personalized set of restrictions and opportunities for each patient.
Social inequality can emerge through
a society’s understanding of appropriate gender roles, or through the prevalence of social stereotyping
. … as the wealthy, in societies where access to these social goods depends on wealth. Social inequality is linked to racial inequality, gender inequality, and wealth inequality.
What role does the education system have on determinants of health?
A college education is associated with even
greater health benefits
. Research shows that with increasing levels of college education people are less likely to die from cancer and cardiovascular disease. College graduates also report better health compared to high school graduates.
- Partnerships with community groups, public health and local leaders. …
- Using clinical experience and research evidence to advocate for social change. …
- Getting involved in community needs assessment and health planning. …
- Community engagement, empowerment and changing social norms.
How does socioeconomic impact on health and wellbeing?
Socioeconomic factors are important determinants of health and wellbeing in Australia. … In general, people from lower socioeconomic groups are
at greater risk of poor health
, have higher rates of illness, disability and death, and live shorter lives than those from higher groups (Mackenbach 2015).
How do socioeconomic factors affect the ability to deliver healthcare?
Low SES is an important determinant of access to health care. Persons with low incomes are more likely to be Medicaid recipients or uninsured, have poor-quality health care, and
seek health care less often
; when they do seek health care, it is more likely to be for an emergency.