This 2-hour course, delivered across 4 modules, provides health professionals—including WHO staff, policymakers, frontline managers, and clinicians—with essential knowledge about the social determinants of health, the conditions in which people live and work that significantly impact health outcomes. Participants will explore the evolution of our understanding of these determinants, their relevance in various contexts, and how they influence health equity.
Photo creditds: WHO / Anna Kari
Language: English
Health topic
Course information
Overview: The course covers key concepts such as social stratification in health, chronic stress, and life-course epidemiology, all critical for improving approaches in clinical settings, population health management, and long-term health strategies. It also highlights the importance of understanding the broader societal developments that shape these determinants and the need for health actors to incorporate this knowledge into their work. By summarising the recommendations from the Commission on Social Determinants of Health and the WHO World Report on the Social Determinants of Health and Equity, the course empowers participants to take feasible actions that promote health equity and collaborate with other sectors to address health inequities effectively.
Course duration: Approximately 2 hours.
Certificates: A Certificate of Achievement will be issued to participants who score at least 80% of the total points available in the final assessment. Participants who receive a certificate of achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how.
What you'll learn
- Explain why the social determinants of health are important and identify the different perspectives on this topic.
- Identify changes in our understanding of the social determinants of health, why social determinants impact health equity, and the implications for actors in a variety of contexts (community, clinical areas, public health, other sectors, etc.).
- Recall the recommendations from the Commission on Social Determinants of Health and the WHO World Report on the Social Determinants of Health Equity.
- Articulate the reasons for action on the social determinants, and what actions are feasible for health and other actors to take.
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Certificate Requirements
- Gain a Record of Achievement by earning at least 80% of the maximum number of points from all graded assignments.
- Gain an Open Badge by completing the course.