About this Research Topic

Background

Frontiers in Public Health is pleased to announce a Research Topic for Review articles in the field of social determinants in epidemiology and disease prevention.

The World Health Organization defines social determinants of health as those non-medical factors that have an impact on health. They include socioeconomic status, education, employment, lifestyle, and any other non-medical variables that can shape health behaviors, access to healthcare, and overall health outcomes for individuals and communities. The evidence suggests that social determinants have a substantial impact on health and contribute to health inequities across the world. Understanding and addressing these social determinants is thus a public health priority, essential for promoting health equity and effective disease prevention strategies.

This Research Topic aims to provide a platform for in-depth analysis and synthesis of existing research in this field. We welcome Review articles that highlight key findings in this area, identify gaps in the existing literature, and propose recommendations for future research, policy development, and interventions. The Reviews should contribute toward advancing the understanding of social determinants and their impact on health outcomes, while also identifying actionable strategies to promote health equity and improve disease prevention efforts.

We encourage submissions on the following topics, among others:

• health disparities: reviewing the current literature on health disparities arising from social determinants, with a focus on understanding the underlying mechanisms, exploring the pathways through which these disparities emerge, and identifying potential solutions

• socioeconomic factors: providing a comprehensive synthesis of research on the impact of socioeconomic status, income inequality, poverty, and education on health outcomes, health behaviors, healthcare access, and utilization

• built and social environments: analyzing the existing evidence on the influence of the physical and social environments on health, including neighborhood characteristics, housing conditions, social capital, and community resources

• social support systems: summarizing the literature on the role of social support networks, social relationships, and social cohesion in influencing health outcomes, disease prevention, and health promotion

• access to healthcare: critically evaluating the barriers and facilitators to accessing quality healthcare, including healthcare disparities, healthcare utilization patterns, and the impact of health insurance coverage

• health behaviors and lifestyle factors: reviewing the research on how social determinants influence health behaviors, such as physical activity, diet, substance abuse, and adherence to preventive measures

• policy and interventions: assessing the effectiveness of policies, interventions, and community-based programs targeting social determinants of health, with a focus on evidence-based practices, innovative approaches, and lessons learned.

Please note that article types other than Review will not be accepted for this Research Topic.

Keywords: social determinants of health (SDH), socioeconomic status (SES), lifestyle medicine, health inequities, disease prevention, epidemiology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

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