Which items are the social determinants of health as listed?

• A. Genetic factors, individual lifestyle choices, age, gender.
• B. Economic stability, education, social and community context, healthcare access, neighborhood and built environment.
• C. Only healthcare system quality.
• D. Environmental pollution exclusively.

Answer: (B)

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, along with the systems that shape those conditions. The five domains most often cited are economic stability; education; social and community context; healthcare access and quality; and neighborhood and built environment. These determinants influence health by shaping opportunities, resources, and exposures that affect risk, resilience, and the ability to maintain health. Economic stability affects housing and food security and stress levels; education influences health literacy and job prospects; social and community context covers social support and discrimination; healthcare access and quality reflect how easily people can obtain timely, affordable care; and neighborhood and built environment include housing quality, pollution, safety, and access to safe spaces for physical activity. Relying only on genetic factors, age, or gender, or focusing narrowly on one element like healthcare quality or environmental pollution, misses the broader, interconnected factors that shape health outcomes at the population level.