This activity discusses the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) and how they contribute to the inequitable distribution of disease risk.

Step 1: The three “Principles of Action” outlined in the final report to the Commission on Social Determinants of Health are essential to achieving health equity. These actions contain a host of SDH such as access to decent employment, and gender equity. This resource was assigned as an Essential Resource in Module 3 and the link can also be found there. Read the "Executive Summary" (pages 1-23), paying special attention to the different social determinants of health the Commission addresses.

Step 2: Find one recent news article (published within the past month), in a newspaper or on a news website, that features a health issue in your particular country or community. Alternatively, you can find one new story of interest on CDC Global Health in the News. (Choose one story from the list of news stories).

1. Briefly summarize the main features of the health issue you selected, and how it is affecting the country or community where it exists.
   
2. What are the main risk factors for this health issue?
   
3. Outline three social determinants of health that could influence those who are most at risk for this health issue. Describe how these social determinants are linked and relevant to this health issue. (Note: it may help to go through the determinants described by the Commission and try to visualize how each may be linked to the health issue you selected. For example, how might income, employment, gender, structural racism, global warming, physical environments, access to health services, etc. influence those who are at risk?)
   
4. Briefly describe 3 actions you recommend that could improve health equity related to this health issue. (These recommendations can be community actions, government actions, or international actions but they must address all three of the social determinants you described in question 3).