Social determinants of health

Social determinants of health

The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.

Responding to increasing concern about these persisting and widening inequities, WHO established the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) in 2005 to provide advice on how to reduce them. The Commission's final report was launched in August 2008, and contained three overarching recommendations:

The Rio Political Declaration of 2011 confirmed Member State commitment to take action to address the social determinants of health in five areas:

  • Adopt improved governance for health and development
  • Promote participation in policy-making and implementation
  • Further reorient the health sector towards promoting health and reducing health inequities
  • Strengthen global governance and collaboration
  • Monitor progress and increase accountability

LATEST

Final report of the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health is now available

The WHO Conference Secretariat has now put together the full Report of the World Conference (66 pages with color pictures). A 16 page summary Report is also available.

World Health Assembly adopts the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health

A resolution endorsing the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health was adopted in May 2012 by WHO Member States at the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly Side Event

The Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health identified five action areas for health to engage in to address the social determinants of health. One of these action areas focused on the reorientation of health care. The United Kingdom government, in partnership with the World Medical Association (WMA) and the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA), held a side-event that explored concrete mechanisms related to the role of health care providers.

Outcome of the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health

The Executive Board having considered the report on the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 2011), recommends to the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution. Click on the above link for more information.

Landmark conference and Rio Political Declaration

WHO convened a global conference on 19-21 October 2011 - World Conference on Social Determinants of Health (WCSDH) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to build support for the implementation of action on social determinants of health. The conference brought together over 1000 participants representing 125 Member States and a diverse group of stakeholders. The event was attended among others by Michel Temer, Vice President of Brazil and Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. On 21 October, 2011 participating Member States adopted the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health.

Action:SDH

Action on the social determinants of health (Action:SDH) is an emerging and exciting area of public health. To support this development, the World Health Organization (WHO) has created Action:SDH, an electronic information sharing platform, which aims to foster discussion and debate and to provide a clearing house on actions aimed at improving health equity through addressing the social determinants of health.

Social determinants approaches to public health: from concept to practice

The thirteen case studies contained in this publication documents the real-life challenges in implementing health programmes using a social determinants approach, including the challenges in scaling up, managing policy changes, managing intersectoral processes, adjusting design and ensuring sustainability.

  • Themes
    Formerly Knowledge Networks, the key themes studied by the Commission on Social Determinants of Health
  • Publications
    Papers, reports and other material related to social determinants of health, health equity and the themes studied by the Commission

World Conference October 2011

New SDH community of practice tool

Essential information

The Final Report of the Commission

Interview Sir Michael Marmott