10/15/21, 11:48 AM Social determinants of health and health inequalities - Canada.

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Canada.ca > Health > Health science, research and data > Determinants of health

Social determinants of health and health

inequalities

On this page
Social and economic influences on health
Health inequalities in Canada
Supporting the reduction of health inequalities
Funding Opportunities

Social and economic influences on health

Many factors have an influence on health. In addition to our individual
genetics and lifestyle choices, where we are born, grow, live, work and age
also have an important influence on our health.

Determinants of health are the broad range of personal, social, economic

and environmental factors that determine individual and population health.
The main determinants of health include:

1. Income and social status

2. Employment and working conditions
3. Education and literacy
4. Childhood experiences
5. Physical environments
6. Social supports and coping skills
7. Healthy behaviours
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8. Access to health services

9. Biology and genetic endowment
10. Gender
11. Culture
12. Race / Racism

Social determinants of health refer to a specific group of social and

economic factors within the broader determinants of health. These relate
to an individual's place in society, such as income, education or
employment. Experiences of discrimination, racism and historical trauma
are important social determinants of health for certain groups such as
Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ and Black Canadians.

Health inequalities in Canada

Canada is one of the healthiest countries in the world. However, some
Canadians are healthier and have more opportunities to lead a healthy life.

Differences in the health status of individuals and groups are called health
inequalities. These differences can be due to your genes and the choices
you make. For example, whether you exercise or drink alcohol. However,
the social determinants of health can also have an important influence on
health. For example, Canadians with higher incomes are often healthier
than those with lower incomes.

Health inequity refers to health inequalities that are unfair or unjust and
modifiable. For example, Canadians who live in remote or northern regions
do not have the same access to nutritious foods such as fruits and
vegetables as other Canadians.

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Health equity is the absence of unfair systems and policies that cause
health inequalities. Health equity seeks to reduce inequalities and to
increase access to opportunities and conditions conducive to health for all.

Supporting the reduction of health

inequalities
Reducing health inequalities means helping to give everyone the same
opportunities to be healthy, no matter who they are or where they live. We
are working in a number of ways to reduce health inequalities and address
the social determinants of health.

1. Strengthening the evidence base to inform decision-making

The Health Inequalities Data Tool contains a large set of data on
health inequalities in Canada by subgroups of the Canadian
population, including by social, economic and demographic
factors. For example, the size and impacts of health inequalities are
available by Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, immigrants or
Canadians living in rural/remote or urban settings. It was created
by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Pan-Canadian
Public Health Network, in collaboration with Statistics Canada, and
the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
The Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait report
discusses important health inequalities in Canada. It was
developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Pan-
Canadian Public Health Network in collaboration with Statistics
Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and the
First Nations Information Governance Centre.
Social determinants and inequities in health for Black Canadians: A
Snapshot reports national data on inequalities in health outcomes

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and determinants of health for Black Canadians, and highlights

how Anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination are key drivers
of health and social inequities faced by diverse Black Canadian
communities.
Data on Indigenous children, and health and development in the
early years supports the design of effective early childhood
development programs and interventions. These resources were
developed by the Canadian Institute of Child Health in partnership
with the Canadian Council on Social Determinants of Health and
the Public Health Agency of Canada.
2. Engaging beyond the health sector
The Public Health Agency of Canada established the Canadian Council
on Social Determinants of Health to work with leaders from different
sectors on the social determinants of health and improve health equity.
The Council has produced a number of resources and tools, for
example:

Roots of Resilience: Overcoming Inequities in Aboriginal

Communities
A Review of Frameworks on the Determinants of Health
Pan-Canadian resource on evidence and initiatives to improve the
determinants of health for children and their families
3. Sharing knowledge of action across Canada
Under the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health in
2012, Canada and other member states pledged to take steps to
improve health equity. We have documented examples of actions
across Canada in these areas as part of the following reports:

Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health: A

Snapshot of Canadian Actions 2015

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Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health : A

Selection of Canadian Actions 2013

Funding Opportunities
Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund
Implementation Stream - Black LGBTQI+ Canadians
Implementation Stream – Knowledge Mobilization Network

Date modified:
2020-10-07

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