Social Determinants of Health, Fourth Edition

Now in its fourth edition, Social Determinants of Health provides the definitive Canadian discussion on the structural and socio-economic factors that shape population health. Edited by Dennis Raphael, this text draws on contributions from leading academics and experts across Canada to critically examine how income, education, employment, housing, food security, gender, and race influence health outcomes. With a public policy perspective, the book explores structural inequalities and highlights the effects of economic globalization and neoliberal policies on health. The fourth edition incorporates recent statistics, updates on early childhood education and Canada’s national childcare system, and new material on the social determinants affecting Indigenous Peoples’ health. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the relevance of understanding these determinants, as vulnerable populations experienced disproportionately higher rates of illness and mortality.

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage of primary social determinants of health in the Canadian context.
• Expert contributions from academics and policy analysts across Canada.
• Public policy focus highlighting structural inequalities and their impact on health.
• Updated content on early childhood education, national childcare policy, and Indigenous health.
• COVID-19 relevance, illustrating health disparities among marginalized populations.
• Interdisciplinary appeal, useful for students in health studies, nursing, sociology, human services, and allied health programs.
• Includes recent statistics and evidence-based analyses for teaching and research purposes.