Health Equity Matters: Unveiling the Determinants of Health

Research and literature suggest many factors that influence human health. Determinants of health globally, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2017), include income and social status, education, physical environment (safe water and clean air, healthy workplaces/working conditions, safe houses), social support networks (family and friends' support), genetics (inheritance), health services (access and use of services that prevent and treat disease influencing health), and lastly, gender (men and women suffer from different types of diseases). In Canada, we also include the determinants of health listed above, and in addition, the Canadian Government also highlights determinants of health such as aboriginal status, disability, food insecurity, early life, race, social exclusion, social safety net, unemployment, and job security (Canada, 2023). Recognizing the determinants of health globally, nationally, and provincially is paramount. Looking at one single factor like aboriginal status can shape one's health in a multitude of ways. Indigenous populations in Canada have experienced social, economic, and political disadvantages through colonialism. The policies implemented to assimilate Aboriginal people have dissolved cultural continuity and unfavorably shaped their health outcomes. This has resulted in inequities such as chronic illness, food insecurity, and mental health crises (Kim, 2019).

Health inequalities refer to the systematic differences in health that exist between socioeconomic positions, social classes, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, or other social groups (Eikemo, 2019). Many of the health inequalities are results of social, political, and economic disadvantages. Although Canadians may be considered one of the healthiest countries in the world, there are grave inequalities right here at home. Yes, awareness is increasing that medical care alone cannot adequately improve health overall or reduce health disparities without also addressing where and how people live (Braveman, 2011). So what is needed? Research priorities include measuring social factors better, monitoring social factors and health relative to policies, examining health effects of social factors across lifetimes and generations, incrementally elucidating pathways through knowledge linkage, testing multidimensional interventions, and addressing political will as a key barrier to translating knowledge into action (Braveman, 2011).

So What's Next?

The goal should be to give everyone the same opportunity to be healthy, no matter where they live, by using a multi-faceted approach centered on collaboration. Research has outlined data tools and evidence to address the determinants of health, but it’s extremely important these tools are put into action. By following up on evidence-based research, the globe as a whole can tackle even the social determinants of health and aid in the reduction of health disparities (Williams, 2008).

Curated Resources - Determinants of Health

References

Braveman, P., Egerter, S., & Williams, D. R. (2011). The social determinants of health: coming of age. Annual review of public health, 32, 381–398. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031210-101218

Canada, P. H. A. of. (2023, June 1). Government of Canada. Social determinants of health and health inequalities - Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html 

Eikemo TA, Øversveen E. Social Inequalities in health: Challenges, knowledge gaps, key debates and the need for new data. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. 2019;47(6):593-597. doi:10.1177/1403494819866416

Kim PJ (2019) Social determinants of health inequities in Indigenous Canadians through a life course approach to colonialism and the residential school system, Health Equity 3:1, 378–381, DOI: 10.1089/heq.2019.0041.

Williams, D. R., Costa, M. V., Odunlami, A. O., & Mohammed, S. A. (2008). Moving upstream: how interventions that address the social determinants of health can improve health and reduce disparities. Journal of public health management and practice : JPHMP, 14 Suppl(Suppl), S8–S17. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.PHH.0000338382.36695.42

World Health Organization. (n.d.) (2017, February 3). .Social Determinants of Health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1