Social Determinants of Health

The social determinants of health (SDH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age. These circumstances are in turn shaped by a wider set of forces: economics, social policies, and politics.

The Social Determinants of health are the factors that have the most significant influence – for better or worse -, on health. They include the social, economic and the physical environment, as well as the individual’s particular characteristics and behaviours.

Social determinants of health can be considered more widely to include social, environmental, and economic determinants of health.

See also: determinants of health

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