The World Health Organization defines determinants of health as factors that “affect the health of individuals and communities,” such as a person’s behaviours or their social, physical and economic environment (WHO, 2017). While curating information this week, it became apparent that determinants of health continue to be a well-documented concept within modern research; however, the associated inequalities that I explored while completing my undergraduate studies, do not appear to have changed.

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Addressing the associated inequities is complex, because the responsibility does not lie solely with the health sector. Lucyk, K. (2020) indicated that the intersectoral approach outlined in the current Canadian federal mandate letters is designed to address determinants of health, via cross-ministry collaborative approaches such as targeted federal budgets, revamped tax policies and employment, housing and education initiatives. The provincial government is following suit, as there are overlaps contained within the current Government of Alberta mandate letters.

 

Although progress is slow, I am hopeful that in time, this modern approach will bring about improvements at the federal, provincial and municipal level.

 

Below is a selection of additional resources that I curated related to this topic.

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Curated Resources

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CIHICanada [@CIHICanada]. (2018, November 9). Measuring health inequalities: An introduction. Youtube. 

 

Determinants of health. (n.d.). Who.int. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/determinants-of-health

Government of Canada, Relations, C.-I., & Northern Affairs Canada. (2018, April 23). Health. Rcaanc-Cirnac.Gc.Ca. https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1524499024614/1557512659251

 

Health inequalities interactive tool. (n.d.). Cihi.Ca. Retrieved October 13, 2023, from https://www.cihi.ca/en/health-inequalities-interactive-tool