Social Determinants of Health: A Comparative Approach

Social Determinants of Health: A Comparative Approach introduces the various elements that determine the health of individuals in their communities. The text takes a macro-level approach, focusing on population health rather than strictly on individual health. Social Determinants of Health focuses on "Anglo-American" countries-Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia-examining the commonalities and differences socially, economically, and politically.The text begins by outlining the background, theory, and evidence for a population health perspective. This is followed by discussion of environmental factors, such as employment, housing, and diet, and social factors such as gender, support and well-being, and being an Aboriginal person. The text concludes with an overview of the social patterning of health-relevant behaviour and the politics of health-related policy. Written in an accessible manner, Social Determinants of Health further engages students by offering case studies and "Pause and Reflect" boxes, as well as end-of-chapter questions, suggested readings, and websites.

Table of Contents:
PrefaceAcknowledgementsIntroduction: The Conventional Understanding of Health and Its AlternativeHow We Understand Threats to Our HealthA New Perspective on Our Health: Rise of an Alternative ViewHealth InequalitiesThe Basis of Health InequalitiesWhat Lies Ahead1: Thinking about Individual and Population HealthSynopsisLevels of AnalysisIndividual Level Analysis of Health and DiseaseOrigins of Population HealthSome Notes on TermsTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites2: Population Health and Social EpidemiologySynopsisThe Emergence of the Field "Social Epidemiology"Geoffrey Rose and the Population Health PerspectiveThe Impact of Recent Studies on Thinking about HealthThe Gradient in HealthThe Building Blocks of TheoryTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites3: Income, Inequality, and HealthSynopsisThe Gradient in HealthUnderstanding the Complex Relationship between Income and HealthThe Inequality Hypothesis under AssaultWhat Are We to Make of the Literature on Inequality and Health?The Importance of Keeping Materialist Arguments Separate from Ones about Hierarchy andControlIncome and Income DistributionPublic Programs and ServicesPoverty and Its MitigationLower Taxes or More Public Spending?Theoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites4: Childhood and the Transition to AdulthoodSynopsisEarly ChildhoodAnimal StudiesContributions from PsychologyEarly Childhood PolicyA Note on the Public School SystemOlder Children and TeensTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites5: Social Support, Social Capital, and Social ExclusionSynopsisSocial Norms, Predictability, and Human HealthSocial NetworksSocial Support and HealthSocial CohesionSocial CapitalSense of Community BelongingSocial ExclusionTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites6: Health of Aboriginal PeoplesSynopsisWho Are the Aboriginal Peoples?The Health of Aboriginal PeoplesUnderstanding the Determinants of Aboriginal HealthA Story of Dramatic ImprovementTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites7: Gender and HealthSynopsisThe Health of Women and MenThe Effects of Marriage on HealthDistress among WomenGender EquityEducation and the Health of Women and Their CommunitiesGay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered PeopleTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites8: Employment, Working Conditions, and HealthSynopsisThe Centrality of Employment to Adult HealthHealth and JobsUnemployment and HealthChanges in the Nature of EmploymentWorking Conditions and HealthPolicies Affecting Employment, Earnings, Job Benefits, and Working ConditionsTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites9: Housing and NeighbourhoodSynopsisHomes and HealthNeighbourhood and HealthUrban Design, the Built Environment, and Physical ActivityHousing Policy and HealthTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites10: Food, Food Insecurity, Obesity, and NutritionSynopsisDiet and the Health of PopulationsWhat Is a Healthy Diet? The Canada Food GuideThe Relative Cost of Healthy FoodsObesityDiet and HealthPolicies and ProgramsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites11: Social Patterning of BehaviourSynopsisHuman Behaviour and Its ContextHealthy LifestylesTheoretical ConsiderationsSummaryCritical Thinking QuestionsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated Websites12: The Politics of Population HealthModels of HealthGlobalization and Human HealthPopulation Health and PoliticsAnnotated Suggested ReadingsAnnotated WebsitesGlossaryReferencesIndex

About the Author :
Alan Davidson is an associate professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. He has served as the dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Development at Okanagan University College, director of the Population and Health Services Research Centre, and director of Health Services for the Yukon government.