Social Determinants of Health

What are the Social Determinants of Health?

"The social determinants of health (SDH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. These forces and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems" (World Health Organisation, 2021).

Watch the video below.

As the video shows, Social Determinants of Health are notoriously complex and it can be difficult to sometimes isolate a particular cause for ill health or short life expectancy. Each determinant can influence other determinants which can cumulatively lead to poor health.

Dahlgren and Whitehead

Below, you will see the Dahlgren and Whitehead (1991) model for Social Determinants of Health. This is a widely used model which illustrates the complex factors that can influence the health of individuals and populations. Within the model there are several categories for the determinants of health which affect the individual at the centre, progressing from societal influences to individual influences:

  • General socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental conditions. These include housing, extreme weather conditions, noise, exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.

  • Living and working conditions.

  • Social and community networks. These include friendships, relationships, geographical communities, and communities of interest (e.g. cultural or religious affiliations).

  • Individual lifestyle factors include diet, physical activity, and smoking.

  • The individual characteristics at the centre are arguably the factors that individuals have little or no control over.

Consider what factors might influence your own health using the categories in the Dahlgren and Whitehead model. Write them down.

References

Dahlgren G, Whitehead M. (1991) Policies and Strategies to Promote Social Equity in Health. Stockholm, Sweden: Institute for Futures Studies.

World Health Organisation (2021b) Social determinants of health. https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-of-health#tab=tab_1