The Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities

Written by a leading authority in health equity, Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities is the definitive classroom guide to understanding and addressing racial and social disparities in health.

Paula Braveman, MD, MPH, is Professor of Family and Community Medicine and Founding Director of the Center for Health Equity at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Braveman has studied and published extensively on health equity, health disparities, racism, and other social determinants of health. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with local, state, national, and international health agencies to see rigorous research translated into practice for greater health equity, including the World Health Organization and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2002, considered one of the highest honors for U.S. scientists working in the field of health.

Acknowledgments
Introduction: What Influences Health? And What Influences the Influences?
Chapter 1: Income and Wealth Shape Health and Health Disparities in Many Ways
Chapter 2: Education, Health, and Health Disparities
Chapter 3: Stress Mediates the Health Effects of Many Determinants of Health
Chapter 4: Racism Damages Health Through Many Causal Pathways
Chapter 5: Early Childhood Experiences Shape Health Throughout Life
Chapter 6: Healthy and Unhealthy Places: Neighborhoods, Health, and Health Disparities
Chapter 7: Housing, Health, and Health Disparities
Chapter 8: Work Can Be Good-or Bad-For Your Health
Chapter 9: Behaviors Influence Health. What Influences Behaviors?