Social determinants of health are factors in society or in our living conditions that affect our health, for better or for worse, throughout life. Things such as education, housing, transport, employment, working conditions, enough money, clean drinking water, sanitation, and a good start to life are just some of the social determinants of health. "Throughout the world, poor people and those from socially disadvantaged groups get sicker and die sooner than people in more privileged social positions.

Much of the profound inequity in peoples' health within and between countries is socially determined. It arises from the circumstances in which people live and work. Science shows that social factors account for the bulk of the global burden of disease and of health inequalities between and within countries." - WHO http://www.who.int/entity/social_determinants/en/

Our newly established section on the Social Determinants of Health contains general information, books and reports, journal articles, national and international links, local videos and DVDs, and a Powerpoint presentation for your information.

General Information

1. www.health.qld.gov.au/healthyliving/social_determinants_HP.htm
   This is the Queensland Government's website on the Social Determinants of Health. This website will lead you to fact sheets, useful websites and other publications on the social determinants of health.
   
   
2. Marmot M. The solid facts: social determinants of health. Health Promotion Journal of Australia 1999; 9(2): 133-139
   
   [This Professor Marmot's paper is an overview of the determinants of health. It is from his presentation given in Melbourne in April in 1999. For an interesting and very readable development and overview of The Solid Facts: The Social Determinants of Health this is recommended reading.]
   
   
3. Social determinants of health: the solid facts. 2nd edition.
   Edited by Richard Wilkinson and Michael Marmot. WHO 2003. www.who.dk/document/e59555.pdf
   
   [This 2nd edition has been updated with new and stronger scientific evidence since the first edition was written in 1998. This second edition integrates the new evidence and contains graphs, further reading and recommended web sites.]
   
   
4. Select Highlights on Public Views of the Determinants of Health
   Canadian Population Health Initiative. Canadian Institute for Health Information. 2005. Online at www.cihi.ca/cphi
   
   [This paper, hot of the press (March 2005), outlines the Canadian public's understanding of the social determinants of health and 'contributes insight regarding the extent to which there is an opportunity to foster a better understanding of the complex interaction of determinants that affect individual and community health and well-being.']
   
   
5. Making Connections: Health is a Community Affair
   www.making-connections.com
   
   [At this website you will find the above booklet, Making Connections … This booklet uses a very clear and easy to read story format to point out some of the things we can do to create healthier communities for ourselves, our families and our neighbours and friends. This booklet was developed by the Canadian Health Determinants Partnership which includes the Centre for Health Promotion at the University of Toronto, The Ontario Public Health Association, and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. Although Canadian, the examples are practical, and useful for Australian communities to adapt and build on.]
   
   
6. Sweden's new public health policy:
   National public health objectives for Sweden.
   National Institute of Public Health. 2003. www.fhi.se/shop/material_pdf/newpublic0401.pdf
   
   
7. WHO's new Commission on the Social Determinants of Health.
   www3.who.int/whosis/csdh
   
   [WHO has recently launched a high-level Commission on the Social Determinants of Health 'which will assemble relevant evidence and, most importantly, spearhead a political process to drive change… The Commission will emphasize turning public health knowledge into political action.' ]

Books and Reports

1. Amick BC, Levine S, Tarlov AR, Walsh DC, editors. Society and Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press;1995
2. Baum F. The New Public Health. 2nd Edition. Oxford University Press. 2002.
3. Berkman LF, Kawachi I, editors. Social Epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2000.
4. Marmot M, Wilkinson RG, editors. Social Determinants of Health. Oxford:Oxford University Press; 1999.
5. National Health Strategy: Enough to make you sick: how income and environment affect health. National Health Strategy Research Paper No.1. September, 1992.
6. Raphael Dennis, editor. Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives. Canadian. Canadian Scholars Press. Toronto. 2004. In a review of this book, Judy Gerstel wrote in The Toronto Star, 'If a book can walk the walk as well as talk the talk, this one does.' www.cspi.org/books/s/socialdeter.htm
7. Turrell G, Oldenburg B, McGuffog & Dent R. Socioeconomic determinants of health: towards a national research program and a policy and intervention agenda. Qld Uni of Technology, School of Public Health, Centre for Public Health research. April 1999.

Journal Articles

• Bartley, M., Blane, D., & Montgomery, S. (1997). Socioeconomic Determinants of Health: Health and the Life Course: Why Safety Nets Matter. British Medical Journal, 314(7088), 1194. Online at www.bmj.com
  
  
• Brunner, E. (1997). Socioeconomic Determinants of health: Stress and the Biology of Inequality. British Medical Journal, 314, 1472. Online at www.bmj.com
  
  
• Glover, JD., Hetzel D., Tennant S. The socioeconomic gradient and chronic illness and associated risk factors in Australia. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy 2004,1:8 Online at www.anzhealthpolicy.com/content/1/1/8
  
  
• Kawachi, I., & Kennedy, B. P. (1997). Socioeconomic Determinants of Health: Health and Social Cohesion: Why Care about Income Inequality? British Medical Journal, 314(7086), 1037. Online at www.bmj.com
  
  
• Mooney G. Inequity in Australian health care : how do we progress from here? Aust NZ J Pub Health 2003, 27:267-270
  
  
• Muntaner C. Teaching social inequalities in health: barriers and opportunities. Scandinavian University press. 1999, 27:161-165.
  
  Oldenburg B. McGuffog I. Turrell G. Socioeconomic determinants of health in Australia: policy responses and intervention options. Medical Journal of Australia. 172(10):489-92, 2000 May 15. gateway.ut.ovid.com/gw1/ovidweb.cgi
  
  
• Peterson A. Lupton D. The New Public health: Health and Self in the Age of Risk. St Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin, 1996.
  
  
• Roberts, H. (1997). Socioeconomic Determinants of Health: Children, Inequalities, and Health. British Medical Journal, 314(7087), 1122. Online at www.bmj.com
  
  
• Syme S. Social Determinants of Health: The Community as an Empowered Partner. Preventing Chronic Disease. Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy. Vol 1(1): January 2004. Essay on line : www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2004/jan/syme.htm

Links for further information

1. www.sachru.sa.gov.au This is the website of the South Australian Community Health Research Unit. Visit this site to find out about the Australian Health Inequities Program (AHIP): A five year, $2.4 million National Health and Medical Research Council funded program 'which brings together researchers from a range of disciplines including public health, labour market economics, housing and geography, to address health inequities and analyse policy and program strategies that aim to reduce them.' Cited from research matters volume 13 number 3 dec 2004, newsletter of the South Australian Community Health Research Unit.
   
   
2. phmovement.org This is the People's Health Movement website. It is a network of global and national organizations committed to giving voice to the people whose health is shaped by policies and programs so often imposed rather than built up in partnership. Professor Anthony Zwi Head of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the University of New South Wales is currently (March 2005) establishing the NSW Chapter of the People's Health Movement Australia (PHM Oz).
   
   
3. listserv.yorku.ca/archives/sdoh.html Archives of the SDOH@YORKU.CA Social Determinants of Health.
   
   
4. World Bank www.worldbank.org/poverty/scapital
   
   
5. National priorities in other countries.
   
   5.1 Sweden's new public health policy: National public health objectives for Sweden. National Institute of Public Health. 2003. www.fhi.se/shop/material_pdf/newpublic0401.pdf
   
   5.2 Social determinants of health: the solid facts. 2nd edition. Edited by Richard Wilkinson and Michael Marmot. WHO 2003. www.who.dk/document/e59555.pdf.
   
   5.3 Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives. Edited by Dennis Raphael. 'Raphael's book summarises how socio-economic factors affect the health of Canadians, surveys the current state of eleven social determinants of health across Canada and provides an analysis of how these determinants affect Canadians' health. In each case, the book explores what policy options would contribute to better health outcomes and how to ensure that these options are pursued.' [Maybe it's time for an Australian version!]
   
   5.4 Raphael, D. & Curry-Stevens, A. (2003). The Toronto Charter for a Healthy Canada. Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management and the Centre for Social Justice. On line at: quartz.atkinson.yorku.ca/draphael
   
   5.5 Strengthening the social determinants of health: the Toronto Charter for a Healthy Canada. February 2003. Online at: www.socialjustice.org

Videos and DVDs

1. Marmot M. Policies to Reduce Inequalities in Health
   
   [Video of a lecture prepared by Professor Michael Marmot for the Australian Health Promotion Association's 2002 National Health Promotion Conference held at Darling Harbour in Sydney NSW. This video can be purchased from the Secretariat, Australian Health Promotion Association. Email: ahpa@usc.edu.au ]
   
   
2. DVD of the The Social Determinants of Health: moving from ideals to practice event held on 9 October 2004 at Sydney University. It was run conjointly with the NSW Branches of the PHAA, the AHPA, the AFPHM, and the RACMA.
   
   [Contact Suzanne Gleeson at sglee@email.cs.nsw.gov.au for information about accessing a copy of this DVD]

PowerPoint Presentations

Two presentations given at the combined PHA's and the AHPA's NSW Branches event The Social Determinants of Health: moving from ideals to practice, held on October 9, 2004 at Sydney University.

1. Professor Stephen Leeder Social Determinants in Health and Disease: what can we do?
   click here to view the presentation (319kb)
   
   
2. Professor Anthony Zwi Head of the Public Health and Community Medicine, University NSW. Social Determinants of health – conversing/converging on a public health response