Abstract

ALVAREZ CASTANO, Luz Stella. The social determinants of health: beyond the risk factors perspective. Rev. Gerenc. Polit. Salud [online]. 2009, vol.8, n.17, pp.69-79. ISSN 1657-7027.

The analysis of the health population status from the perspective of the social determinants of health (SDH) are a crucial topic in the World Health Organization and some Health National Ministry`s agenda. Despite of its theoretical foundations and the empirical evidence elicited on the influences of social structures on the individual and groups' health status, for some scholars the SDH is a field in incipient stage with no clear definitions. Others consider it as similar to the traditional risk factors theory. In this article the main theoretical perspectives to analyze the SDH are revised as well as some particular challenges by doing research from this perspective in the Colombian society.

Keywords : social determinants of health; health inequalities; risk factors; equity in Health; Social Environment; quality of life; public health; health inequalities; risk factors; equity in health; public health.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )