Social Determinants of Health and Their Related Organizations in East Azerbaijan

Maintaining and improving health and elimination of harmful effects of social determinants of health، especially social conditions in which people live and work، are personal، societal، and international responsibilities that require attempts of individuals and organizations. This study aimed to identify social determinants of health and organizations influencing these determinants.

This original study used qualitative methods to collect data. SID database for Persian papers and Pub Med database and WHO website for English written papers were searched for the term «Social Determinants of Health». Identification of related organizations was achieved through consultation with health specialists and managers of social organization in two stages using Delphi technique.

25 Social Determinants of Health were recognized which include: education، work and work environment، food and agriculture، income and poverty، housing، providing health care services، demographic status، safe water and wastewater، environment، culture and life style، social supporting network، transportation، social exclusion، economy and business، health behaviors، government and urbanization، social services، social gradient، equity، technology and communication، marginalization and condition of indigenous residents، violence، victims and crime، physical infrastructures and industries. Furthermore، state government، medical sciences university، broadcasting organization، education، social security، Environmental Protection Agency، trading، agricultural organization، water and sanitation، sport، Imam Khomeini Relief committee، industries and mines، transportation، housing، welfare organization، police، and Medical Council were the organizations affecting health status.

Any action taken on SDH should engage governmental body، civil society and local societies، business agencies، and international organizations. Health system has an important role on SDH changes and can support the SDH approach at all levels of society and coordinate other organizations to improve health equity.