Social determinants of health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the factors, oftentimes related to environment or status, that affect the conditions of daily life and one's health. They are the factors that determine a person's vulnerability for disease, but also their ability to gain access to care. They are commonly broken down into six categories: economic stability, education, social and community context, race and gender, health care access, and built environment. There is debate about which of these is most important.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that health is influenced by the "circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work and age, and the systems put in place to deal with illness." WHO further states that "unequal distribution of health-damaging experiences is not in any sense a 'natural' phenomenon but is the result of a toxic combination of poor social policies, unfair economic arrangements [where the already well-off and healthy become even richer and the poor who are already more likely to be ill become even poorer], and bad politics."

The SDOH includes all non-biological factors that influence one's health and quality of life. This consists of: access to health education; community and social context; access to quality healthcare; food security; neighborhood and physical environment; and economic stability. Studies have found that more than half of a person's health is determined by SDOH rather than clinical care and genetics.

Health disparities exist in countries around the world. There are various theoretical approaches to social determinants, including the life-course perspective. Chronic stress, which is experienced more frequently by those living with adverse social and economic conditions, has been linked to poor health outcomes. Various interventions have been made to improve health conditions worldwide, although measuring the efficacy of such interventions is difficult. Social determinants are important considerations within clinical settings. Public policy has shaped and continues to shape social determinants of health.

All types of government can increase health equity in their region. Health is not always the main driver of political policy, but policies still often affect citizens' access to healthcare and health equity. One example of this indirect correlation is in trade markets. The WHO explains that, "Trade policy that actively encourages the production, trade, and consumption of foods high in fats and sugars to the detriment of fruit and vegetable production is contradictory to health policy."