NCHHSTP Social Determinants of Health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. As defined by the World Health Organization,external icon these forces (e.g., racism, climate) and systems include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies, and political systems.

SDOH are linked to a lack of opportunity and resources to protect, improve, and maintain health. Taken together, these factors create health inequities— types of health disparities that stem from unfair and unjust systems, policies, and practices, and limit access to the opportunities and resources needed to live the healthiest life possible. Read more about this:

• NCHHSTP: Establishing a Holistic Framework to Reduce Inequities in HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and Tuberculosis in the United Statespdf icon
• What is Health Equity?external icon

While NCHHSTP diseases and infections affect everyone, not everyone is affected equally. The infections we focus on are associated with factors such as age, income, employment, and housing, often resulting in disparities by race and ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and geography. Because SDOH drive these disparities, NCHHSTP embraces a combination of strategies to address SDOH including:

• Supporting offices of health equity throughout the Center.
• Coordinating Center-wide workgroups on Health Equity, MSM, and Correctional Health.
• Sponsoring journal supplements on SDOH and related topics.
• Writing and awarding funding opportunities to programs and activities that address structural and social factors
• Engaging partners in affected communities to develop healthier SDOH policies and programs.
• Promoting program collaboration as a strategic imperative.

Learn more about Social Determinants of Health at CDC.

NCHHSTP’s Commitment

NCHHSTP is committed to promoting awareness, engagement, and action on the many factors that can affect the health of all persons, and to addressing these factors in our policy, practice, research, and partnership activities. In support of this commitment, we created a series of brief videos featuring our leaders speaking about the importance of addressing SDOH throughout the Center. The videos include their personal commitment to achieving health equity with a focus on the diseases and infections we work so hard to prevent.