Determinants of health

Determinants of health

 

See also: Social determinants of health and Risk factor

Generally, the context in which an individual lives is of great importance for his health status and quality of life. It is increasingly recognized that health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society. According to the World Health Organization, the main determinants of health include the social and economic environment, the physical environment, and the person's individual characteristics and behaviors.^[9]
More specifically, key factors that have been found to influence whether people are healthy or unhealthy include:^[9][10][11]

Income and social status Social support networks Education and literacy Employment/working conditions Social environments Physical environments

Personal health practices and coping skills Healthy child development Biology and genetics Health care services Gender Culture