Social Determinants of Health: Examples and Interventions

 Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. They are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes and health inequities.

SDOH can have a significant impact on health outcomes. For example, people with lower incomes are more likely to have chronic health conditions and die earlier than people with higher incomes. People with less education are more likely to smoke, be obese, and have diabetes. People living in neighborhoods with high levels of crime and violence are more likely to experience mental health problems and injuries.

Here are some specific examples of SDOH:

• Economic stability: Income, employment status, access to affordable housing and transportation, food security, and social safety nets.
• Education access and quality: Access to quality early childhood education, primary and secondary education, and higher education.
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  Children in early childhood education classroom
• Healthcare access and quality: Access to affordable, quality healthcare services, including preventive care, treatment, and mental health care.
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  Patient talking to doctor in a hospital
• Neighborhood and built environment: Access to safe and affordable housing, safe and walkable neighborhoods, parks and recreation facilities, healthy food options, and clean air and water.
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  People walking and biking in a safe neighborhood
• Social and community context: Social support networks, access to quality childcare, exposure to violence and crime, and discrimination.
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  People gathered together in a community center

Addressing SDOH is essential to improving health outcomes and reducing health inequities. There are a variety of ways to address SDOH, including public policies, community programs, and individual interventions.

Here are some examples of programs and interventions that address SDOH:

• Economic stability: Increasing the minimum wage, expanding access to affordable housing, and providing social safety nets for people with low incomes.
• Education access and quality: Investing in early childhood education, providing free or low-cost college tuition, and making higher education more accessible to people from all backgrounds.
• Healthcare access and quality: Expanding access to Medicaid and Medicare, providing subsidies to help people purchase health insurance, and investing in community health centers.
• Neighborhood and built environment: Investing in affordable housing, improving public transportation, creating safe and walkable neighborhoods, and increasing access to parks and recreation facilities.
• Social and community context: Providing social support services for families and individuals, reducing exposure to violence and crime, and promoting racial and ethnic equity.

By addressing SDOH, we can create a healthier and more equitable society for everyone.

References:-

World Health Organization. "Social Determinants of Health." World Health Organization, 2023. Web. Accessed 13 November 2023.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Social Determinants of Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023. Web. Accessed 13 November 2023.