Social Determinants of Health

1. Desert An area where people have limited access to affordable, healthy food.
5. Traits inherited from parents that can influence health risks
8. Unfair treatment of people based on things like race, culture, gender, or background.
11. Personal actions people take to protect and improve their own health.
12. A rule, law, or plan created to guide decisions and improve outcomes.
14. Human-made surroundings such as sidewalks, roads, parks, housing, and buildings.
16. Having enough money, steady income, and financial security to meet basic needs.
17. Communication problems that happen when patients and providers do not speak the same language.

2. A health condition involving excess body weight that can increase disease risk.
3. A health factor that a person cannot change or control.
4. Conditions in life outside the doctor’s office that affect health every day.
6. Harmful conditions in the physical environment, such as pollution, unsafe water, or mold.
7. The ability to understand health information and make informed health choices.
9. A condition where a person struggles to stop using a substance even when it causes harm.
10. A health factor that a person can change or control.
12. Harmful substances in the air, water, or environment that can affect health.
13. A person’s cultural background and inherited traits that may affect health risks.
15. The process of using food to support growth, energy, and health.