A recent USA Today article associates various social determinants of health (SDOH) with the systemic oppression of minorities in the United States. While the article focuses on racism as a public health crisis, it also describes various barriers to determinants like education, economic status, employment, and housing that can inequitably impact minorities. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services groups SDOH into five general domains—Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Health Care Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, and Social and Community Context—that impact the public and “contribute to wide health disparities and inequities.” (“Social Determinants of Health”) Although some states, public institutions, and private organizations attempt to mitigate inequalities by developing new policies and programs, longstanding cultural and political barriers can make it difficult to implement meaningful reforms.

This topic challenges you to explore how social determinants of health impact minorities. Identify a specific problem related to a SDOH that you find significant, study it in-depth, and develop an innovative proposal to address it. Your goal is to present a well-researched, evidence-based, and objective solution to your chosen problem, and to educate your audience about its significance.