Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives

The third edition of Social Determinants of Health focuses on the socio-economic conditions that shape the health of individuals and communities. This edited collection includes contributions from top academics and high-profile experts from across the country. The chapters take a public policy approach that sees the mainsprings of health emerging from the social distribution of resources. The collection as a whole integrates insights from the health sciences, the sociology of health, and the political economy of health. This revised edition has been well updated and includes a greater focus on the political pathways and mechanisms that explain how the social determinants of health come to be distributed amongst the population; early childhood development in Canada in relation to other developed nations; Indigenous health and its determinants; public policy and the social safety net; and the growing network of civil society organizations addressing the inequitable distribution of the social determinants of health. Contents: Part 1. Introducing the social determinants of health. Social determinants of health : key issues and themes / Dennis Raphael -- Social structure, living conditions, and health / Dennis Raphael -- Part 2. Income security and employment in Canada. Precarious changes : a generational exploration of Canadian incomes and wealth / Ann Curry-Stevens -- Income, income distribution, and health in Canada / Nathalie Auger and Carolyne Alix -- Precarious work and the labour market / Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay -- Health consequences of labour market flexibility and worker insecurity / Emile Tompa, Michael Polanyi, and Janice Foley -- The unhealthy Canadian workplace / Andrew Jackson and Govind Rao -- Understanding and improving the health of work / Peter Smith and Michael Polanyi -- Part 3. Foundations of life-long health : education. Early childhood education and care as a social determinant of health / Martha Friendly -- Early child development and health / Dennis Raphael -- The state and quality of Canadian public elementary and secondary education,/ Charles Ungerleider and Tracey Burns -- Literacy and health literacy : new understandings about their impact on health / Barbara Ronson McNichol and Irving Rootman -- Part 4. Foundations of life-long health. Food insecurity / Lynn McIntyre and Laura Anderson -- Health implications of food insecurity / Valerie Tarasuk -- Housing / Toba Bryant and Michael Shapcott -- Housing and health / Toba Bryant -- Part 5. Social exclusion. Social exclusion / Grace-Edward Galabuzi -- Social inclusion/exclusion and health : dancing the dialectic / Ronald Labonté -- The health of Indigenous peoples / Janet Smylie and Michelle Firestone -- Part 6. Public policy. Follow the money : how business and politics define our health / David Langille -- Oppressions and access to health care : deepening the conversation / Elizabeth McGibbon -- Public policy, equality, and health in Canada / Lars K. Hallstrom -- Public policy, gender, and health / Pat Armstrong -- Surmounting the barriers : making action on the social determinants of health a public policy priority / Dennis Raphael and Ann Curry-Stevens -- Appendix: Strengthening the social determinants of health : the Toronto Charter for a Healthy Canada.