Social, economic, and cultural conditions deeply influence individual and population health. This book examines the social determinants of health, such as income, education, housing, employment, and social support. It analyzes how systemic inequities create health disparities and impact healthcare access. Approaches to addressing these determinants through policy, community action, and cross-sector collaboration are explored. Students learn to adopt a holistic and justice-oriented lens in understanding and improving health outcomes.
Akua Appiah is a health equity scholar deeply invested in examining how socioeconomic and environmental conditions shape health outcomes. Her interdisciplinary work combines public health, sociology, and urban planning to highlight disparities in access to care. Akua has contributed to national health equity frameworks and led initiatives targeting food insecurity, housing instability, and education access. She is known for her advocacy-driven research and participatory policy development.