Social determinants of health: Isn't it time to move from "understanding the determinants" to "changing them"?
Journal of Behdasht dar Arseh (i.e., Health in the Field),
Vol. 14 No. 1 (1405),
24 October 2026
,
Page 1-4
https://doi.org/10.22037/jhf.v14i1.53517
Abstract
Social determinants of health, including literacy, income, employment, food security, and living conditions, play a major role in shaping health and health inequalities. Despite the growing body of research and academic activities on these determinants in Iran, a substantial gap remains between understanding social determinants and acting to change them. Drawing on observations from a field experience in a deprived area of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, this editorial argues that improving health cannot rely solely on healthcare services or health education; it also requires interventions that address the social and environmental conditions in which people live. The experience of a local charity working on literacy, reading, vocational skills, and employment opportunities illustrates how social determinants of health can be translated into practical community action. Universities and research centers on social determinants of health should therefore move beyond identifying and describing these.
- Social determinants of health
- Health promotion
- Implementation
- Action gap
How to Cite
References
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