Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environment in which people live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. Simply put, the social environment in which we live can influence our health outcomes.

There are following points that given below :


  • Affordable and safe housing
  • local food market
  • access to medical services
  • education and vocational training
  • transportation options
  • public safety
  • social support
  • Language / Literacy
  • culture
  • Access to mobile phone, internet or social media

The following are the main categories of social determinants of health:

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the poorest people in the world have the worst health. Social Determinants of Health recognizes that the environmental conditions that exist in a community can have a significant impact on the health of its members.




Resources that improve quality of life can have a significant impact on population health outcomes. Examples of these resources include safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy food, local emergency/health services, and a life threatening, toxin free environment.


Social determinants of health – we hear about them all the time, but what are they really about Simply put, it is what determines our health outcomes around us beyond healthy habits. They are the conditions in which we were born. Where we work, live and grow old, affecting our quality of life. For example, you know that smoking increases your chances of getting lung cancer, but did you know that where you live, the air you breathe, social support, and your level of education can affect your overall health.


Take COVID-19 as an example. We know that minority communities have been hit the hardest. And we also know that these communities are struggling to get a vaccine. This is an example of how our built environment can affect our health outcomes. Many minority populations live in less affluent areas, are more likely to have essential or “frontline” jobs, and have less access to resources and health care. All of these SDoH inequalities have contributed to an increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths among minority groups in the United States.


The water crisis in Flint, Michigan is another example of how SDoH affects our overall health outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that SDoH is shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources, and Flint's situation is a striking example. In 2014, Flint's water source was diverted from Lake Huron to the Flint River, managed by the Detroit Water and Sewage Department.







The water in the Flint River is corrosive, so no steps have been taken to treat the water and prevent lead and other hazardous chemicals from leaking from pipes into drinking water. Lead is incredibly toxic and once ingested, it is stored in bones, blood and tissues. There is no “safe” level of lead exposure and the damage to the human body is irreversible. In children, prolonged exposure delays development, learning, and growth, and damages the brain and nervous system. In adults, it can lead to heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure and lower fertility.