What Are Social Determinants of Health?
By Gina Michiko Craig
In an ideal world, all people would have equal access to quality healthcare and to ways of maintaining their physical and mental health. Many people in the U.S. may take for granted their health and high level of healthcare access. Yet social determinants of health are a reality for many people in the U.S. to navigate in their pursuit of health. Here’s a look at social determinants of health and some solutions that public health organizations, patient advocacy groups, and others are working toward.
What Life Aspects Are Impacted by Social Determinants of Health?
What are social determinants of health, and what life aspects are impacted by them? A fish pond provides a small-scale example of social determinants of health. If you can envision fish in a pond where the water level varies drastically by the time of year and pollution seeps in from the surrounding soil, this might provide a picture into health issues that can occur. If the water level is low during hot summer months, then the bodies of the fish can become stressed from the higher water temperature that results. And if the water becomes polluted, then the fish might develop health issues that wouldn’t develop if they were able to live in clean water.
Social determinants of health may impact all aspects of a person’s life. This fact makes it all the more vital for all aspects to be examined, and these aspects of life can range from birth to the end of their lifetime. The life aspects that must be examined for their impact on health include; where people are born, where they live, the schools they attend, where they perform their work, where they exercise or participate in recreational activities, where they attend spiritual or religious activities, and where they grow into old age. Naturally, any other places people spend time that is detrimental to their health would also be a social determinant of health.
Socioeconomic and Environmental Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health fall under the categories of socioeconomic and environmental factors. Socioeconomic factors span a wide gamut of barriers to care. Low income, lack of insurance coverage, literacy or language challenges, and lack of transportation are some issues that fall under socioeconomic factors in health. If a person encounters one or more of these barriers in their pursuit of healthcare, then their path can be slowed down or stopped, or the patient may not fully understand the severity or urgency of their health condition that must be addressed to ensure their personal wellness.
Environmental factors can also function as barriers to care. Racial discrimination, violence, polluted air or water, lack of nutritious foods or physical activity, and unsafe housing conditions are some examples of environmental factors in health. If a person experiences one or more of these stressful or dangerous situations, then their pursuit of healthcare can be hindered or stopped, or their health can worsen if there are more urgent matters to be addressed. Stress is also known to cause inflammation in the body that can trigger serious conditions that must be addressed like high blood pressure, diabetes, and impaired brain function among others.
Solutions to Overcome Social Determinants of Health
Fortunately, there are a multitude of ways for social determinants of health to be addressed. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created the Healthy People 2030 initiative to help improve health outcomes for underserved patients and others impacted by social determinants of health. One of the overarching goals of Healthy People 2030 is “Create social, physical, and economic environments that promote attaining the full potential for health and well-being for all.” Increasing awareness about social determinants of health is vital to work toward health equity. Yet public health organizations and the partners they work with in transportation, education, and housing must take action to bring real change and positive results for all people.
Some solutions to overcome social determinants of health include:
Working to put federal grants toward providing free transportation to and from healthcare appointments for underserved patients
Increasing access to healthy foods through school and community food programs and reducing incidence of food deserts
Utilizing funding generated from new housing developers to provide affordable housing options for low-income individuals and families
Creating community organizations that gain the trust of local communities to work toward ending violence within communities
Raising funding for initiatives to reduce childhood lead poisoning
Supporting youth organizations that offer sports and other activities to engage kids during weekend and after school hours
Increasing funding to provide medical equipment to people with disabilities
Though social determinants of health are a struggle for many, these factors do not need to remain this way. By public health organizations, patient advocacy groups, and their partners taking real actions toward changes, the road to improved health and health outcomes can be shortened and made less arduous. Work is ongoing, and there is still more to be done that can be aided by programs like the Healthy People 2030 initiative. Stay tuned, and we’ll continue to provide updates about social determinants of health to create healthier lives for all.
Source
Social Determinants of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website. Accessed December 18, 2024. https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-health
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