Social Determinants Pandemic

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

The Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are conditions within the environment that affect a wide range of health, functioning and quality-of life outcomes. These factors include where and how we live, learn, work, play, worship and age. This course exposes students to seminal research papers on five key areas of SDOH surveilled by the Department of Health and Human Services: economic stability, education, social and community context, health care access and the neighborhood and built environment. With this knowledge, students will apply relevant conceptual models towards understanding the social epidemiology, i.e., differential distribution and determinants of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in sub-populations within the United States (US). Students will also explore interventions and examine bidirectional relationships between social factors and COVID-19.