Demographics/Social Determinants of Health
Demographics are the classifiable characteristics of a given population.
Demographic characteristics most commonly used in public health statistics include:
Social determinants of health, according to HealthyPeople.gov, are "conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Healthy People identifies five key determinant areas:
Social determinant indicators include, for example:
Health equity is the principle to pursue the highest possible standard of health for all while focusing on those with the greatest obstacles. Social determinants have a large impact on disparities and health equity. In order to improve health outcomes for those with disparities, social determinants often need to be targeted for intervention and prevention efforts. Analysis of what social determinants affect which populations in what areas helps inform programs where to focus efforts. County Health Rankings estimates that social, economic, and physical environment factors account for 50% of health factors.
Interventions with the largest impacts on health outcomes are population-based and focus on social determinants. CDC currently has an effort to target community approaches that focus on "social determinants of health" and "changing the context to make the healthy choice the easy choice." For information on the Health Impact in 5 Years project (HI-5) and the Health Impact Pyramid, visit https://www.cdc.gov/policy/hst/hi5/index.html.
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Geographic Area
- Marital Status
Social determinants of health, according to HealthyPeople.gov, are "conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Healthy People identifies five key determinant areas:
- Neighborhood and Built Environment
- Economic Stability
- Education
- Social and Community Context
- Health and Health Care
Social determinant indicators include, for example:
- Disability Status
- Educational Attainment Level
- Employment Status
- Income Level/Poverty Status
- Natality (native- or foreign-born)
- Veteran Status
- Refugee Information
Why It's Important
Analysis of public health data by demographic characteristics is essential to the reduction and elimination of health disparities. The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000 describes health disparities as differences in "the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality, or survival rates in the population as compared to the health status of the general population." The definition can be applied to any demographic group, not just racial/ethnic minorities. Analysis by demographic characteristics also shows at what age certain diseases and conditions typically appear.Health equity is the principle to pursue the highest possible standard of health for all while focusing on those with the greatest obstacles. Social determinants have a large impact on disparities and health equity. In order to improve health outcomes for those with disparities, social determinants often need to be targeted for intervention and prevention efforts. Analysis of what social determinants affect which populations in what areas helps inform programs where to focus efforts. County Health Rankings estimates that social, economic, and physical environment factors account for 50% of health factors.
Interventions with the largest impacts on health outcomes are population-based and focus on social determinants. CDC currently has an effort to target community approaches that focus on "social determinants of health" and "changing the context to make the healthy choice the easy choice." For information on the Health Impact in 5 Years project (HI-5) and the Health Impact Pyramid, visit https://www.cdc.gov/policy/hst/hi5/index.html.
What Is Known
Certain demographic and social determinant groups have consistently better outcomes than others on a variety of public health issues.How It's Tracked
Demographic and social determinant characteristics are tracked in most public health data sets including, but not limited to:- Birth Rates
- Deaths From All Causes
- Disability Prevalence
- General Fertility Rate
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Life Expectancy at Birth
- Marriage and Divorce
- Physician Supply
- Refugee Arrivals
- Sex Ratio at Birth
- Utah Health Improvement Index (HII)
- Utah Population Characteristics: Age Distribution of the Population
- Utah Population Characteristics: Education Level in the Population
- Utah Population Characteristics: Historical Population Estimates
- Utah Population Characteristics: Household Income
- Utah Population Characteristics: Household Structure
- Utah Population Characteristics: Per Capita Income
- Utah Population Characteristics: Poverty, All Persons
- Utah Population Characteristics: Poverty, Children Age 17 and Under
- Utah Population Characteristics: Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Population
Population Estimates
- Population Estimates by County and Local Health District
- Population Estimates by Utah Small Area
- Population Estimates by Race (race alone)
- Population Estimates by Race (race alone or in combination)
- Population Density by County and Local Health Districts
Count, Birth, and Fertility Rates
Mortality
- Mortality Counts
- Mortality - Crude Rates
- Mortality - Age-adjusted Rates
- Leading Causes of Death by Count
- Leading Cause of Death by Crude Rate
- Leading Cause of Death by Age-adjusted Rate
- Average Age at Time of Death
- Years of Potential Life Lost (YPLL)
Social Measures
Economic Measures
- Median Income by Race
- Median Income by Ethnicity
- Median Income by Age Groups
- Percentage of People in Poverty (SAIPE 1-Year Estimates)
- Percentage of People in Poverty by Age
- Percentage of People in Poverty by Sex
- Percentage of People in Poverty by Race
- Percentage of People in Poverty by Ethnicity
- Percentage of People in Poverty by Educational Attainment
- Percentage of People in Poverty by Employment Status
- Percentage of People in Poverty by Work Experience
- December 2020 UDOH Research: Low Birth Weight among children experiencing Intergenerational Poverty in Utah, 2013-2019
- August 2020 Spotlight: How COVID-19 Disproportionately Affects HII Areas
- May 2020 Health Status Update: Social Determinants of Health
- February 2020 Spotlight: Accessing Primary Care: The Unheard Voices
- Summary of 2018 Health Insurance Analysis from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Intergenerational Poverty: Examining Healthcare Profiles and Utilization
- Special Edition Utah Health Status Update: Health Disparities by Utah State Legislative District
- Special Edition Spotlight: Opioid Epidemic, Medical Cannabis and Medicaid Expansion: Impacts to American Indian/Alaska Native communities in Utah
- Utah Vital Statistics - Births and Deaths 2017
- June 2019 Utah Health Status Update: The Utah Health Improvement Index (HII)
- Special Edition Utah Health Status Update: The Status of Women's Health in Utah
- April 2019 Community Health Spotlight: Pacific Islanders in Southwestern Utah
- March 2019 Utah Health Status Update: Utah Medicaid Beneficiaries With Complex Needs
- Health Disparities by Utah Legislative District
- Utah Health Improvement Index
- Utah Vital Statistics - Births and Deaths 2016
- Summary of 2017 Health Insurance Analysis from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- October 2018 Community Health Spotlight: Insurance Coverage by Industry
- August 2018 Breaking News: Highlights on American Indian Health in Utah
- December 2017 Community Health Spotlight: Uninsured Rate at Lowest Point in More than a Decade
- Summary of 2016 Health Insurance Analysis from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- March 2017 Breaking News: Intergenerational Poverty
- February 2017 Utah Health Status Update: Measuring Health Disparities: Trends in Utah Racial and Ethnic Minorities
- Utah Vital Statistics - Births and Deaths: Utah, 2015
- Summary of 2015 Health Insurance Analysis from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Social Determinants of Health (from Utah State Health Assessment 2016 Report)
- Substandard Housing (from Utah State Health Assessment 2016 Report)
- No Health Insurance (from Utah State Health Assessment 2016 Report)
- Utah Vital Statistics - Births and Deaths: Utah, 2014
- September 2015 Utah Health Status Update: Industry and Occupation Impact on Health
- August 2015 Utah Health Status Update: Health Status by Race and Ethnicity: 15 Years of Surveillance
- February 2015 Community Health Spotlight: Social Determinants of Health: Religion