Abstract

PENARANDA, Fernando. Public health and social justice in the debate of social determinants of health. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2013, vol.31, suppl.1, pp.91-102. ISSN 0120-386X.

A theoretical discussion of the implications of assuming a social justice perspective which restores the subject for public health is presented, as a product of the debate on social determinants - determination of health. Beginning with an analysis of strengths and weakness of the Commission´s proposal on Social Determinants of Health, and bringing the criticisms from the social determination movement, it is discussed the need to overcome a dichotomist, causalist and deterministic vision of public health, which has traditionally excluded the subject. From a dialectic perspective of subject/society and a capability approach of justice, it is considered the need of conceiving health as creation, emergence, and as a happening, and also as deployment of the determinations and potentialities of being. Thus, thinking public health form a social justice perspective, requires a theoretical and an ethic effort, and becomes an opportunity to broaden its understanding and its practice.

Keywords : social determination of health; determinants; social justice; capabilities; human development.

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