Social and Structural Determinants of Health Disparities

Dear Colleagues,

A better understanding of social and structural determinants of health disparities is critically important for population health. While health disparities have been separately linked to individual-level factors (e.g., education, income, race, ethnicity, gender), place-based factors (e.g., rurality, health care provider availability), and policy-level factors (e.g., geopolitical factors), the study of the intersectionality of individuals within these broader contextual settings can provide an even more informed and holistic perspective.

For example, individual-level characteristics (e.g., whether one identifies as a member of an aboriginal population) can be combined with place (e.g., whether one resides in a rural area) to identify a broader understanding of access to quality health care among rural-residing populations by aboriginal status. Furthermore, the contextual environment can include, but is not limited to, various measures of the built environment (e.g., objective measures of neighbourhood walkability or age-friendly and/or activity-friendly community design) and/or geopolitical context (e.g., variation in health-related policy implementation by location). Moreover, policy-relevant work is not limited to what might be seen as traditional health policies because public policies at multiple levels, whether intentionally framed as health policies or not (e.g., public transportation-related policies that may support active transportation), can impact population health and health-related outcomes.

Studies that incorporate the intersection of multiple factors at different levels are critical in addressing health disparities. This Special Issue is meant to highlight work relevant to health disparities with preference given to quantitative empirical work that integrates both social and structural determinants of health disparities in a theoretically driven, innovative, and evidence-informed approach.

Dr. Samuel D. Towne, Jr.
Guest Editor

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