Jack, Haley, Maria H, Marcus, Megan M

February 5, 2014
Social determinants are environmental factors that affect health. Geographic locations,
socioeconomic level, the environment in which they live, these are all examples of social
determinants. We chose two focus areas diabetes, and HIV from Healthy People 2020 to list and
discuss the social determinants involved.
Diabetes is a disease that affects millions, but what people do not think about is what
about their own surroundings affect the disease. Following is a list of social determinants that
affects diabetes: education (are they knowledgeable about the disease), socioeconomic status (are
meds and doctors affordable, is the person even able to work), environment (living conditions),
access to resources (do they have access to doctors and meds), nutrition (do they eat a disease
appropriate diet), exercise (do they follow a disease appropriate exercise routine).
Some of the social determinants involved with HIV include: education (are they
knowledgeable about the disease), socioeconomic status ( are meds and doctors affordable or
available), culture (certain cultures are more prone to contract the disease), access to resources
(do they have access to the doctors and meds needed), access to contraception (help with disease
spread and prevention), access to counseling (much needed due to social stigmas surrounding
HIV), taboo topic (people do not like to talk about HIV).
These are just some of the social determinants involved with these two specific topics,
there are many more. There is more to disease than just having it. Many more factors affect the
disease and the ability to function, survive, and prosper with it, than just taking medication.