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Social Determinants of Health into Action

A huge body of research demonstrates that health and health inequalities are shaped by income distribution, access to education, availability of affordable adequate housing, childcare and early child development, social exclusion, environmental factors and other social determinants of health. These determinants of health interact and intersect with each other to produce reinforcing and cumulative impacts over people’s lives and on the health of particular populations or communities. All of this takes place in a constantly changing and dynamic environment; in fact, through multiple interacting and inter-dependent economic, social and health systems playing out in particular neighbourhoods and regions.

Determinants of health have been the focus of sustained high-level policy attention in recent years: from the World Health Organization’s Special Commission on Determinants of Health, through European Union and other broad efforts, to comprehensive policies to address the determinants and their impact on health inequalities in many countries.

Much of the Wellesley Institute’s work is about how the social determinants and health inequalities can be addressed through policy action.  We have developed an overview Roadmap for Health Equity setting out key directions needed. 

Research reports, policy papers, presentations and blog commentaries analyzing specific social determinants of health (for example, housing & homelessness) or particular health equity issues (such as immigrant health or driving equity into health system reform) are available on other pages.

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