Health equity and determinants of health
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About health equity
Where we're born, live, learn, work and play can have lasting effects on our health.
Health equity means that everyone has a fair chance to be as healthy as possible regardless of these factors, known as social and structural determinants of health.
Social determinants of health
Everyday conditions that shape our lives, such as:
- income and education
- access to decent work, a living wage, job security and safe working conditions
- access to community and social support systems, including medical care
- access to adequate and affordable housing
- accessible public spaces
- living conditions free from discrimination and violence
There are many perspectives on the social determinants of health, including:
- those developed by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples
- fields such as Critical Race Theory and 2SLGBTQI+ scholarship
These perspectives help explain how systemic inequities like racism, colonialism and discrimination can lead to different health outcomes for different communities.
Learn more:
Structural determinants of health
Structural determinants of health are large systems that shape our society and how it works. These include:
- federal, provincial, Indigenous and local governments
- educational, health, immigration and financial systems
- labour markets
- international relations and agreements on subjects like trade and human rights
Structural determinants of health also refer to how the laws, policies, and institutional practices shape:
- daily living conditions
- access to opportunities
- how social and material resources are distributed
When these structures are unfair, they can lead to health inequalities and inequities across population groups.
Importance of determinants of health
Determinants of health play a major role in creating differences in health outcomes across communities. Advancing health equity involves removing barriers and improving access to resources and opportunities for good health.
We need to work with partners across all sectors to address them and improve the health of everyone in Canada, through:
- data and evidence
- training and improving our effectiveness
- investments in equity policies, programs and initiatives
Contact us
Contact us for more information on health equity and how we're advancing it at the Public health Agency of Canada.