Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. The Five Social Determinants of Health are: Economic Stability, Education, Social and Community Context, Health and Health Care and Neighborhood and Built Environment.
Economic Stability refers to employment, food insecurity, housing instability, and poverty. This is your immediate environment and one must have access to clean water and food, shelter, and the ability to earn a living.
Education refers to development of a person starting in early childhood through Higher Education, or K-12 with enrollment into Higher Education. Being able to read and write, understand others and communicate your needs is a vital component to well-being.
Social Community and Context refers to civil participation, discrimination, incarceration and social cohesion. Living in an environment that promotes your overall well-being can directly affect your quality of health.
Health and Healthcare refers to persons having access to health care, primary care, and health literacy. Also understood within SDoH within Health and Healthcare is the ability to afford health care and primary care.
Neighborhood and Built Environment refers to persons having the ability to access foods that support healthy eating patterns as well as a safe living environment that is not subject to sizable amounts of crime and violence. Quality of housing and environmental conditions are also part of the SDoH of ‘Neighborhood and Built and Environment’.
