Focusing on Structural Racism To Address Social Determinants of Health

The concept of social determinants of health (SDOH) is rooted in an understanding that the conditions that people are born into (and live in) shape their health. It is essential that efforts to improve patient health must address not only medical care, but physical environment, social and economic needs, health behaviors, and other factors.


Structural racism is a primary driver of inequities in the conditions in which people of color are born and live, therefore all work to improve health by addressing SDOH requires an explicit focus on addressing structural racism and mitigating its impact on patients. This paper will provide examples of how structural racism in housing has affected inequities in SDOH and health outcomes.


Recommendations and community examples highlight how health and housing partners can work together to address health inequities are driven by structural racism.

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