National Minority Health Month 2024 Reading List

Economic stability is a major social determinant of health. It refers to having a steady income and enough resources to meet basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and transportation. People with economic stability  are more likely to have good health outcomes, while those who are struggling financially are more likely to experience health problems.

Cross-Sector Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Social, Economic, and Health Conditions Impacted During the COVID-19 Pandemic.  Wong, E. Y., Schachter, A., Collins, H. N., Song, L., Ta, M. L., et al. American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), v. 111, #3 Supplement (October), pp. S215-S223, 2021.

The Economic Burden of Mental Health Inequities in the United States Report. - PDF  Satcher Health Leadership Institute, satcherinstitute.org, 2022.

How Do We Explain the Social, Political, and Economic Determinants of Health? A Call for the Inclusion of Social Theories of Health Inequality Within U.S.-Based Public Health Pedagogy.  Harvey, M. Pedagogy in Health Promotion, v. 6, #4 (December), pp. 246-252, 2020.

Relative Roles of Race Versus Socioeconomic Position in Studies of Health Inequalities: A Matter of Interpretation.  Nuru-Jeter, A. M., Michaels, E. K., Thomas, M. D., Reeves, A. N., Thorpe, R. J., Jr, et al.  Annual Review of Public Health, v. 39 (April), pp. 169-188, 2018.

Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Diet Quality and Meeting Dietary Guidelines in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods in the Southeast United States.  Wilcox, S., Sharpe, P. A., Liese, A. D., Dunn, C. G., & Hutto, B. Ethnicity & Health, v. 25, #8 (November), pp. 1115-1131, 2020.

Access to educational resources and quality education plays a significant role in health. Education equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to understand health information and make informed decisions about their health and the healthcare system. There is a strong correlation between education and healthy habits. People with lower educational attainment may have difficulty securing stable, well-paying jobs. This can lead to financial strain and limited access to healthcare, potentially increasing the risk of chronic health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and depression .

Advancing Health Equity by Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Using Health Data to Improve Educational Outcomes.  Rattermann, M. J., Angelov, A., Reddicks, T., & Monk, J. PLoS One, v. 16, #3 (March 17): e0247909, 2021.

The Association Between Educational Attainment and Mortality: Examining Absolute and Relative Effects by Race/Ethnicity.  Brite J. Ethnicity & Disease, v. 32, #1 (Winter), pp. 1-10, 2022.

Examining the Effectiveness of Year-Round School Calendars on Improving Educational Attainment Outcomes Within the Context of Advancement of Health Equity: A Community Guide Systematic Review.  Finnie, R. K. C., Peng, Y., Hahn, R. A., Johnson, R. L., Fielding, J. E., et al. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP), v. 25, #6 (November/December), pp. 590-594, 2019.

Lessons Learned in Implementing Youth and Parent Participatory Action Research in a School-Based Intervention.  Wilhelm, A. K., Pergament, S., Cavin, A., Bates, N., Hang, M., et al. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, v. 15, #1 (Spring), pp. 15-36, 2021.

Opportunities for Healthy Learning as a Social Determinant of Health. Moore, J.B., Hill, S.R., Jr, Weaver, R.G. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (JPHMP), v. 25, #6 (November/December), pp. 523-524, 2019.

Healthcare access and quality of care is a fundamental social determinant of health. Geographic proximity, affordability, and availability of healthcare providers all influence how easily people can get the care they need. Approximately 10% of the U.S. population does not have health insurance , which can prevent individuals from seeking out healthcare services. Difficulty navigating the healthcare system and lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate care providers can also affect access to quality care.

Beyond Health Care: The Role of Social Determinants in Promoting Health and Health Equity.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), kff.org, 2018.

Disparities in Health and Health Care: Five Key Questions and Answers.  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), kff.org, 2020.

Ensuring Access to Quality Health Care in Vulnerable Communities.  Bhatt, J., & Bathija, P. Academic Medicine, v. 93, #9 (September), pp. 1271-1275, 2018.

Geographic, Health Care Access, Racial Discrimination, and Socioeconomic Determinants of Maternal Mortality in Georgia, United States.  Armstrong-Mensah, E., Dada, D., Bowers, A., Muhammad, A., & Nnoli, C. International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS, v. 10, #2 (December 13), pp. 278-286, 2021.

The Role of Social Determinants of Health in Self-Reported Access to Health Care Among Women Undergoing Screening Mammography.  Henderson, L. M., O'Meara, E. S., Haas, J. S., Lee, C. I., Kerlikowske, K., et al. Journal of Women’s Health, v. 29, #11 (November), pp. 1437-1446, 2020.

Neighborhoods play a key role in health. Where you live can significantly impact your health and well-being. Unfortunately, racial and ethnic minority populations and low-income residents are more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher health risks. Creating neighborhoods and environments that promote health and safety, like walkable communities  and accessible greenspaces, can help improve health outcomes and quality of life.

Cancer Beliefs and Screening Behaviors: The Impact of Neighborhood and Other Social Determinants of Health.  Layne, T. M., Agarwal, P., Rapkin, B. D., Jandorf, L. H., & Bickell, N. A. Frontiers in Oncology, v. 13 (January 27): 1072259, 2023.

Determinants of Residential Preferences Related to Built and Social Environments and Concordance Between Neighborhood Characteristics and Preferences.  Li, J., Auchincloss, A. H., Rodriguez, D. A., Moore, K. A., Diez Roux, A. V.,et al. Journal of Urban Health, v.97, #1 (February), pp. 62-77, 2020.

Housing and Health: An Overview of the Literature. - PDF  Project HOPE, www.projecthope.org , 2018.

Neighborhoods, Work, and Health: Forging New Paths Between Social Determinism and Well-Being.  Terry, P.E. American Journal of Health Promotion, v. 33, #5 (June), pp. 646-651, 2019.

Your Neighborhood Matters: An Ecological Social Determinant Study of the Relationship Between Residential Racial Segregation and the Risk of Firearm Fatalities.  Shour, A. R., Anguzu, R., Zhou, Y., Muehlbauer, A., Joseph, A., et al.  Injury Epidemiology, v. 10 (March): 14, 2023.

Social connections matter. Relationships with family, friends, and our community provide support, reduce stress, and influence healthy behaviors. Strong social connections and a sense of belonging within a community foster well-being. Discrimination, unsafe neighborhoods, and lack of resources  can hinder getting the social support needed for good health. Programs to address SDOH can create supportive environments and improve overall health outcomes.

Actionable Analysis: Toward a Jurisdictional Evaluation of Primary Care Access in the Community Context.  Ford, M. M., Weisbeck, K., Kerker, B., & Cohen, L. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, v. 10, #1 (January-December): 2150132719891970, 2019.

Communities for Wellness Equity: Implementing a Partnered Symposium to Identify Social Determinants of Health Priorities.  Agonafer, E.P., Jones, F., Jones, A., Carson, S., Richards, D.L., et al. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, v. 16, #1 (Spring), pp. 105-117, 2022.

Inclusive and Intersectoral: Community Health Improvement Planning Opportunities to Advance the Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity.  Hatton, C. R., Kale, R., Pollack Porter, K. M., & Mui, Y. BMC Public Health, v. 24, #1 (January 13): 170, 2024.

Racial Disparities and COVID-19: The Social Context.  Marrett C. B. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, v. 8, #3 (June), pp. 794-797, 2021.

The Role of Social Context in Racial Disparities in Self-Rated Health.   Bell, C. N., Thorpe, R. J., Jr, & LaVeist, T. A. Journal of Urban Health, v. 95, #1 (February), pp. 13-20, 2018.