What is a "Determinant of Health"?

In Canada, determinants of health are defined as "the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that determine individual and population health" (Government of Canada, 2018).

In Canada, the social determinants of health include:

• Aboriginal status

• Disability

• Early life

• Education

• Employment and working conditions

• Food insecurity

• Health services

• Gender and gender identity

• Housing

• Income and income distribution

• Race

• Sexual orientation

• Social exclusion

• Social safety net

• Unemployment and job security

(Canadian Mental Health Association, 2019)

References:

Canadian Mental Health Association. (2019). Policy papers on the social determinants of health. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://ontario.cmha.ca/provincial-policy/social-determinants/

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2018, September 25). Social determinants of health and health inequalities . Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html