New Research in Social Determinants and Mechanisms of Health Inequalities

Dear Colleagues,

Redressing health inequalities and elucidating the proximal and distal impacts of social determinants of health are both critical. For many diseases and conditions, health inequities are the key drivers for persistent health disparities that we have yet to mitigate despite a wealth of research.

Data from numerous studies have highlighted the preventable disparities in populations and communities marginalized by modifiable social determinants of health. Individual level factors including age, race, gender, and behaviors (such as lifestyle choices) are often addressed over the structural mechanisms.

This Special Issue on New Research in Social Determinants and Mechanisms of Health Inequalities aims to shed light on innovative ways to measure and mitigate social determinants of health through policy, practice, intervention, or community/healthcare system engagement.

We welcome studies using mixed, qualitative, or quantitative methods covering observational studies, quasi-experimental designs, evaluation designs, and community-engaged research designs on the following topics.

• Identifying structural mechanisms;
• Describing inequalities across health and healthcare systems or at structural levels;
• Methodological approaches to identify drivers of inequalities;
• Approaches to mitigate inequalities (e.g., community-led/engaged interventions, evidence-based/informed health practices, and the impact of policies/policy changes);
• Measuring and mitigating social determinants in clinical and community-based healthcare settings. 

Prof. Dr. Rhonda Belue
Dr. Noreen Mokuau
Dr. Kelly D. Taylor
Dr. Natalie Bradford
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.