The determinants of health

Primary health care is a comprehensive approach to health and wellness that focuses on all of the factors that determine health across the lifespan. These factors are called the determinants of health. In addition to our individual genetics, where we are born, grow, live, work and age also have an important influence on our health and include:

  • Income and social status;
  • Employment and working conditions;
  • Education and literacy;
  • Childhood experiences;
  • Physical environments;
  • Social supports and coping skills;
  • Healthy behaviours;
  • Access to health services;
  • Biology and genetic endowment;
  • Gender;
  • Culture; and
  • Race or Racism

For more information about the determinants of health in action, let’s look at the story of Jason.

The story of Jason

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Last updated: 2021-02-28