Social determinants of health - why treat without changing what makes people sick?

Social determinants of health (SDHs) are the 'social circumstances in which people are born, grow up, live, work and age, including the health system', that increase the likelihood of health inequities in society. SDHs can be social, economic, demographic or geographical in nature. Examples include social exclusion, occupational and environmental exposure to health risks, unemployment or job insecurity, low levels of education, adverse early childhood development, culturally inappropriate healthcare, and poverty.