Pathophysiology
Clinical meaning
Social determinants of health are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, including income, education, housing, food security, social support networks, employment, and access to healthcare services. These determinants create systemic health inequities that disproportionately affect marginalized populations including Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, refugees, immigrants, LGBTQ2S+ individuals, and people with disabilities. Health equity frameworks require nurses to move beyond individual patient care to recognize and address structural barriers that produce unequal health outcomes. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action include specific directives for healthcare, and Jordan's Principle ensures Indigenous children receive needed services without jurisdictional delays.