Social determinants of health

The WHO Western Pacific Regional Office provides support to strengthen national capacities to address the social determinants of health, and to develop and implement policies and programmes—both within health and across other sectors—to reduce health inequities. Its work in this area links closely to its work in health systems strengthening and promoting a primary health care approach.

The social determinants of health are known to be among the most significant causes of poor health and inequalities between and within countries. These determinants include: poverty, gender inequality, ethnicity, unemployment, unsafe workplaces, urban slums, globalization, and lack of access to health systems.

The Commission on Social Determinants of Health, launched in March 2005, aimed to provide guidance to Member States and WHO’s programmes by gathering evidence on social determinants and ways to overcome health inequities. According to the Commission's final report, submitted in August 2008, although health inequities are increasing both within and between countries, they are not inevitable, but rather the result of policy failures. The report makes three main recommendations:

improve daily living conditions;
tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money and resources; and
measure and understand the problem and assess the impact of action.

Specifically for WHO, the Commission recommends work in three areas:

strengthen global and national capacities to address social determinants, including providing support for a “health in all policies” approach, and to assess the impacts of global polices on health inequities;
strengthen efforts to measure and evaluate health inequities, through national health-equity surveillance systems and appropriate tools; and
build internal capacity to address social determinants and health inequities.

Fact sheets

No fact sheets available at this time.

News and press releases

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Relevant publications and documents

Integrating poverty and gender into health programmes - a sourcebook for health professionals. Module on sexual and reproductive health
Although poverty and gender significantly influence health and socioeconomic development, health professionals are not always adequately prepared to address such issues in their work. This publication aims to improve the awareness, knowledge and skills of health professionals in the region on poverty and gender concerns. The modules that comprise this workbook are intended for use in pre-service and in-service training of health professionals. This publication is also expected to be of use to policy-makers and programme managers as a reference document, or in conjunction with in-service training.

Integrating poverty and gender into health programmes - A sourcebook for health professionals: Module on HIV/AIDS
Although poverty and gender significantly influence health and socioeconomic development, health professionals are not always adequately prepared to address such issues in their work. This publication aims to improve the awareness, knowledge and skills of health professionals in the region on poverty and gender concerns.The modules that comprise this sourcebook are intended for use in pre-service and in-service training of health professionals. This publication is also expected to be of use to policy-makers and programme managers as a reference document, or in conjunction with in-service training.

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Foundational Module on Gender)

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Module on Noncommunicable Diseases)

Noncommunicable Disease and Poverty: The Need for Pro-poor Strategies in the Western Pacific Region - A Review

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Foundational Module on Poverty)

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Module on Ageing)

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Module on Malaria)

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes : A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Module on Curricular Integration)

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes : A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Module on Mental Health)

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A report on surveys of health ministries and educational institutions

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes: A Sourcebook for Health Professionals (Module on Gender-Based Violence)

Integrating Poverty and Gender into Health Programmes - A Sourcebook for Health Professionals. Module on Water, Sanitation and Food
Although poverty and gender significantly influence health and socioeconomic development, health professionals are not always adequately prepared to address such issues in their work.This publication aims to improve the awareness, knowledge and skills of health professionals in the region on poverty and gender concerns.The modules that comprise this sourcebook are intended for use in pre-service and in-service training of health professionals. This publication is also expected to be of use to policy-makers and programme managers as a reference document, or in conjunction with in-service training.

REACHING THE POOR Challenges for TB Programme in the Western Pacific Region
Building on work done at the global level, Reaching the poor: challenges for TB programmes in the Western Pacific Region presents evidence from the Region on the relationship between poverty and TB.

Reaching the Poor: Challenges for Child Health in the Western Pacific Region
The WHO Western Pacific Region has achieved impressive gains in child survival but reaching poor or underserved communities with existing life saving interventions remains one of the biggest challenges in reducing child mortality. The Region is thus seeking to integrate a pro-poor focus into child survival-related programmes. This publication is a step in that direction.