Having access to health care alone does not make someone healthy. Health is also influenced by where we live, work and play. Social factors such as income, education, community support and early childhood development all affect health. These are known as the social determinants of health.
Grand Erie Public Health is committed to respecting the cultural diversity of all residents. We strive to ensure the services we provide are inclusive, free from discrimination, and reflective of the communities we serve.
Health equity means that everyone has a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible — regardless of age, income, gender, ethnicity or other social and economic factors.
Health is about much more than access to medical care. People have different opportunities for health, and those opportunities are largely shaped by social and economic conditions.
Let’s start a conversation about health – without talking about health care at all.
What is Health Equity?
Health equity means that all people (individuals, groups and communities) have fair access to, and can act on, opportunities to reach their full health potential and are not disadvantaged by social, economic and environmental conditions including socially constructed factors such as race, gender, sexuality, religion and social status. (National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, 2025. https://nccdh.ca/learn/glossary/)
Unfortunately, not everyone has the same opportunity to be healthy. This is in large part due to the lack of access to and experiences with the social determinants of health. Health differences that are the result of inequitable experiences of the social determinants of health are called health inequities.
Health inequities are:
- Systematic, meaning that health differences are patterned, where it is generally observed that health improves at each rung up the social and income ladder.
- Socially produced, through the social and economic conditions of our society. Because they are socially produced, they are also avoidable by ensuring that everyone has access to the social and economic conditions needed for good health.
- Unfair, because opportunities for health and well-being are limited depending on the social or economic position of a person or group.
The social and economic environments where a person lives are critical to their health and well-being. While health care and lifestyle behaviors, such as smoking, substance use, physical activity, and nutrition are important, health is also the result of social and economic factors and conditions that influence the daily environments in which people live, work, play, learn, and grow. Collectively, these factors are known as the determinants of health.
The determinants of health are the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that determine individual and population health.
The main determinants of health include:
The level and distribution of income in a population, influencing access to food, housing, and opportunities for a healthy life. Higher income is linked to better health, while lower income frequently leads to poorer health outcomes.
Formal education and health literacy: education affects job opportunities, income, and the ability to understand and use health information. Higher education is associated with better health.
Whether people have stable, secure employment or face unemployment; insecurity and unemployment can cause stress, financial instability, and poorer health.
The quality of jobs, hours, workplace safety, and benefits. Good working conditions support health, while poor conditions can increase health risks.
The social, economic, and environmental conditions in early life that influence physical, cognitive, and emotional development — foundational for lifelong health.
Lack of reliable access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food; food insecurity is linked to poor nutritional status and health outcomes.
The affordability, quality, and stability of housing; safe and stable housing supports health and reduces exposure to health risks.
The experience of being excluded from full participation in society (e.g., due to poverty, discrimination, or isolation), which negatively affects health and well-being.
Societal support systems (e.g., income supports, Employment Insurance, social programs) that protect against economic hardship and help buffer health risks.
Access to quality health services, including preventive care and treatment; unequal access contributes to differences in health outcomes.
Being an Indigenous person (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis) shapes health through historical and ongoing experiences of colonialism, systemic inequities, and cultural determinants.
The social and structural roles, expectations, and norms related to gender that influence access to resources, power, and health outcomes.
The social construction of race and associated systemic racism affect health by shaping access to resources, opportunities, and experiences of discrimination.
Physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments and the societal and environmental barriers persons with disabilities face, which affect their health, access, and opportunities.