Case Study 4: The Social Determinants Of A Heart Healthy Community: A Participatory Action Research Project

Social determinants of health (SDH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. The relationship between social conditions, environmental factors, and health has been known for centuries. However, until recently, serious attention had not been given to the importance of social determinants in shaping health, healthcare, and health outcomes. The increasing focus on health disparities has triggered renewed interest in SDH. Over the past 20 years, it has become evident targeting individual behaviors does not significantly increase overall health and medical care. Additionally, focusing on an individual’s behaviors does not adequately reduce health disparities. Social and environmental factors such as education, housing, neighborhoods, family, income and race all matter in the context of health, healthcare, and health outcomes.