Social Determinants of Health: Life Expectancy and the Relationship with Race, Education and Poverty in Delaware Kalyn McDonough Ph.D. Candidate, School of Public Policy and Administration Description • The social determinants of health (SDH) are widely understood as the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and they are influenced by larger structural forces, such as economic, education, and political systems, which impact the conditions of daily life (WHO, 2018). • The conditions in which people live are not naturally occurring, but are a result of socially constructed institutions and public policy. These conditions impact the long-term health of individuals, and have contributed to persistent health inequities (USDHHS, 2015; Bailey et al., 2017). • The conditions which negatively impact peoples’ health are often overlapping and can be cumulative. For instance, in areas of low economic opportunity, there may also be challenging education systems, food insecurity, unstable housing, and a lack of safe recreational spaces. These social determinants work in conjunction to contribute to poor population health. • As a result of structural racism, and other discriminatory practices, certain groups (based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and disability status) are more likely to be negatively affected by the social determinants of health, resulting in health inequities (Bailey et al., 2017; USDHSS, 2015; Knight, Ransford, Gugerty, Dugan, & CodesJohnson, 2015). Life Expectancy in Wilmington 84.1 73.6 Wilmington 70.9 71.2 Demographics Predominant racial or ethnic group between 2012-2016. Predominant Racial or Ethnic Group Year: 2012-2016 Shaded by: Block Group, 2010 Insufficient Data White >90% White 70-90% White 50-70% White <50% Black >90% Black 70-90% Black 50-70% Black <50% Hispanic >90% Hispanic 70-90% Hispanic 50-70% Hispanic <50% Asian >90% Asian 70-90% Asian 50-70% Asian <50% Native American/ Alaska Native >90% Native American/ Alaska Native 70-90% Native American/ Alaska Native 50-70% Native American/ Alaska Native <50% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander 50-70% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander <50% Other >90% Other 70-90% Other 50-70% Other <50% Two Or More >90% Two Or More 70-90% Two Or More 50-70% Two Or More <50% Tie Between Categories Source: Census Life Expectancy in Dover 81.2 78 77 72.5 Dover Demographics Predominant racial or ethnic group between 2012-2016. Predominant Racial or Ethnic Group Year: 2012-2016 Shaded by: Block Group, 2010 Insufficient Data White >90% White 70-90% White 50-70% White <50% Black >90% Black 70-90% Black 50-70% Black <50% Hispanic >90% Hispanic 70-90% Hispanic 50-70% Hispanic <50% Asian >90% Asian 70-90% Asian 50-70% Asian <50% Native American/ Alaska Native >90% Native American/ Alaska Native 70-90% Native American/ Alaska Native 50-70% :Source: Dahlgren & Whitehead, 1991. Data Sources: Demographics, Education, & Poverty- U.S. Census American Community Survey, Policy Map, 2012-2016; Life Expectancy – National Center for Health Statistics. U.S. Small-Area Life Expectancy Estimates Project (USALEEP): Life Expectancy Estimates File for {Jurisdiction}, 2010-2015. National Center for Health Statistics. 2018. 106 Delaware Journal of Public Health – February 2019 Native American/ Alaska Native <50% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander 50-70% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander <50% Other >90% Other 70-90% Other 50-70% Other <50% Two Or More >90% Two Or More 70-90% Two Or More 50-70% Two Or More <50% Tie Between Categories Source: Census