Global Health Disparities and the Social Determinants of Health

Healthcare, while important, is only one element contributing to health and survival (Mokdad et al., 2004), others include health behaviors such as avoiding smoking and wearing seatbelts (Schroeder, 2007). Additional, under-recognized risks, such as poverty, unemployment, exposure to toxins, unsafe housing, and community-level violence, are referred to as social determinants of health (SDH; Marmot, 2005; Artiga & Hinton, 2018). SDHs affect a range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes (Marmot, 2005). Neighborhood factors in SDH often predict a person’s health and wellbeing more than having a healthcare service nearby. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), that ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all people at all ages throughout the world (UN, n.d.). Although some researchers have been critical of the UN stating the SDGs are difficult to monitor and quantify (Hak et al., 2016), others report using a holistic and multisectoral approach can harness the 17 goals and transform health outcomes for all people (Kuruvilla et al., 2018). In this chapter, we focus heavily on WHO’s initiatives to reduce mortality and morbidity by addressing the impact of various SDHs throughout the lifecycle (WHO, n.d.).