November 15, 2019

Advances in screening and treatments for a broad range of chronic diseases have led to improvements in health, yet many lack access to such care – leading researchers, health care providers and public health agencies on a long, collective mission to find out why.

They found the economic and social factors that influence an individual's health and well-being were at the heart of the issue. These factors, commonly referred to as the "social determinants of health," can include an individual's access to a quality education, a good income, having a support system, and living in a safe neighborhood.

In August, researchers from Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health partnered with the City of Philadelphia to observe social determinants of health in "Close to Home: The Health of Philadelphia's Neighborhoods."

The report illuminated the significant contrast in health outcomes for residents in the City's 46 neighborhoods in hopes of improving actions by policymakers, health care providers and citizens to reduce disparities and improve the health of everyone in Philadelphia. The report particularly zeroed in on social and economic factors, and health outcomes, such as those for chronic kidney disease and mental health.

While they were publishing that report, some of their Urban Health Collaborative colleagues, in collaboration with the Health Federation of Philadelphia and the Family Practice Counseling Network (FPCN), were publishing two studies that delved into how neighborhood characteristics may yield insights into healthcare outcomes in Philadelphia.

Read the full article on the Drexel News Blog: Better Health at Home for Everyone