Zip Codes Should Not Determine Health Outcomes
The conditions under which people are born, live, learn, work, play, and age are called the social determinants of health (SDOH). These factors can profoundly affect physical and mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that life expectancy gaps among neighborhoods within the same city can be as much as 30 years.
How can this be? The answer has to do with the social, economic, and environmental conditions that exist within each neighborhood or geographic location and the availability of resources. For example, living in congested urban areas increases the risk of asthma due to air pollution. Chronic stress and anxiety can also increase the severity of the disease. Asthma specialists can identify triggers and prescribe targeted medications, but these services are often unavailable in underserved communities.
Social Determinants of Health
Lack of access to healthcare
Lack of jobs and income
Lack of access to healthy foods
Lack of transportation
Structural racism & discrimination
Language barriers
Lack of education
Lack of childcare
Lack of affordable, secure housing
Lack of community & social support
Food Insecurity
Food availability is another example. Suppose the neighborhood grocery store doesn't sell affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy options. People are more likely to eat processed foods that are higher in salt, fat, and added sugars, increasing the risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Addressing the social determinants of health is critical for overcoming long-term health disparities in the US, increasing access to healthcare services for all Americans, and cutting medical costs by preventing costly chronic conditions.
Inequities in Healthcare
Lack of diversity in clinical trials and studies
Misdiagnosis & under diagnosis
Lack of experience navigating health system
Lack of/or insufficient health insurance
Discrimination in the healthcare system
Health facility and provider shortages in communities of color
Policies and laws on the local, state, and federal levels
The cost of healthcare for those without insurance
The Goal of Health Equity
At Social Health X Foundation, we believe disparities in health outcomes and life expectancy based on zip codes are unacceptable. We're working to ensure everyone has an equal chance of being as healthy as possible.
The goal of health equity is complex. People with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes who live in under-resourced areas may require additional services like transportation to see a health care provider.
Health Equity weighs a community's unmet needs, like food quality and healthcare provider shortages. It acknowledges that we don't all start from the same place, and communities don't all need the same things.
