Social Determinants of Health
We work to address the social, physical and economic conditions that impact upon health, by compiling and disseminating evidence on what works to address these determinants, building capacity and advocating for more action.
Our work
Latest publications
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29 October 2025
The role of the health sector in supporting parents and caregivers to meet their parenting potential
Supporting parents and caregivers requires a whole-of-society approach, with coordinated responses from the health, education, social services, private...
Governments face complex health challenges shaped by the evolving interactions of people and institutions with urban environments; these are compounded...
11 August 2025
Corporal punishment of children: the public health impact
This technical report describes the prevalence, risk factors for, and consequences of child corporal punishment, which it defines as “any punishment...
This landmark report from the WHO Commission on Social Connection highlights that social isolation and loneliness are widespread, with serious but under-recognized...
Related links
- Action: SDG
- Bulletin of the World Health Organization (Special theme: social determinants of health)
- Global action on social determinants of health (Bulletin article)
- The need to monitor actions on the social determinants of health (Bulletin article)
- Implementing equity: the Commission on Social Determinants of Health (Bulletin article)
- Health priorities and the social determinants of health (EMRO journal article)
- Economic and social determinants of disease (Bulletin article)
- Impact of non-health policies on infant mortality through the social determinants pathway (Bulletin article)
- Towards social protection for health: an agenda for research and policy in eastern and western Europe
- Inclusive growth as a route to tackling health inequities
- Global Status Report on Health in All Policies
- Global Network for Health in All Policies
- Implications of the Adelaide Statement on Health in All Policies
- The role of parliamentary scrutiny in promoting Health in All Policies