The Social Determinants of Health: Time to Re-Think?
John Frank1, Thomas Abel2, Stefano Campostrini3
1Director of Knowledge Exchange and Research Impact, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Room 1-308, Doorway #1, Teviot Hall, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK.
Abstract:
Twelve years have now passed since the influential WHO Report on the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) in 2008. A group of senior international public health scholars and decision-makers met in Italy in mid-2019 to review the legacy of the SDoH conceptual framework and its adequacy for the many challenges facing our field as we enter the 2020s. Four major categories of challenges were identified: emerging "exogenous" challenges to global health equity, challenges related to weak policy and practice implementation, more fundamental challenges related to SDoH theory and research, and broader issues around modern research in general. Each of these categories is discussed, and potential solutions offered. We conclude that although the SDoH framework is still a worthy core platform for public health research, policy, and practice, the time is ripe for significant evolution.
Related Concept Videos
Dimensions of Health and Illness
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Models of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention II
The agent-host-environment model states that disease results...
Concepts of Health and Illness
Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is...


