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The “social determinants of health” refers to the basic financial resources and supportive environments necessary for a healthy life. Access to income, employment, affordable housing, healthy food, education, early childhood development, and health care influence physical and mental health as well as life expectancy.
- People from lower socio-economic groups tend to be more exposed to health hazards in the physical environment (unsafe neighbourhoods & working conditions) experience more psychosocial stress and suffer more material deprivation (poor nutrition, inadequate housing).
- Diabetes: BC men from the lowest income group are almost five times more likely to develop diabetes than highest income groups - for women it’s double [1].
- Heart Disease: BC women from the lowest income group are three times as likely to suffer heart disease as women from the highest income group- for men it’s double1.
- Hospitalization: Lower income British Columbians are more than twice as likely as higher income citizens to be overnight hospital patients1.
- Social and economic factors are estimated to account for 50% of the impact on health outcomes, whereas biology and genetics are estimated at 15% according to a 2001 Report for the Senate[2].
- The World Health Organisation indicates that improving access to income, affordable housing, healthy food, education, early childhood development, and recreational opportunities improves physical and mental health as well as life expectancy.
- Poverty can lead to poor nutrition, poor parental health and parental depression which has a negative affect on the development of children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- According to BCHLA’s public opinion research 79% of British Columbians support: A provincial action plan with targets and timelines to improve the health of disadvantaged citizens.
