In the current environment of deepening class and income inequality, it is essential to understand the socio-economic conditions that shape the health of individuals and communities. Now in its third edition, Dennis Raphael’s Social Determinants of Health offers a comprehensive discussion of the primary factors that influence the health of Canada’s population.This seminal text on the social determinants of health contains contributions from top academics and high-profile experts from across the country. Taking a public policy approach, the authors in this edited collection critically analyze the structural inequalities embedded in our society and the socio-economic factors that affect health, including income, education, employment, housing, food security, gender, and race.The thorough updates to this edition include a greater focus on the political mechanisms that explain the distribution of the social determinants of health and additional material on public policy, early childhood education in Canada, and the determinants of Indigenous peoples’ health. Rich in pedagogical tools including critical thinking questions and lists of recommended readings and online resources, this book will actively engage students and researchers alike.

Dennis Raphael, PhD, is a Professor of Health Policy and Management at York University. The most recent of his over 250 scientific publications have focused on the health effects of income inequality and poverty, the quality of life of communities and individuals, and the impact of government decisions on Canadians’ health and well-being. Dr. Raphael is editor of Tackling Health Inequalities: Lessons from International Experiences and Health Promotion and Quality of Life in Canada; co-editor of Staying Alive: Critical Perspectives on Health, Illness, and Health Care; and author of Poverty in Canada: Implications for Health and Quality of Life.

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"This book is a must-read for anyone in education, health, government, or policy development. I think it is crucial that more academics start including SDOH in courses across multiple disciplines. Many courses with an emphasis on health tend to focus on the individual and for the most part ignore the social factors—this needs to change. This text does an incredible job of outlining those social factors."— “Anne-Marie Sullivan, School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland

"This third edition of Raphael's Social Determinants of Health offers timely new material and remains the most compelling and exhaustive Canadian text available on the subject. No one weaves together a more impressive group of experts with more passion, urgency, and evidence than he does."— “Kelly Anthony, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo

"This book makes a highly significant contribution to the field of Public Health in Canada. Aside from being well-researched and well-written, a major strength of the book is its focus on identifying clear policy directions to improve the health of Canadians by influencing each of the social determinants. Raphael’s book is essential reading for university students, practitioners, program managers, and policy-makers in all of the human service sectors."— “Benita Cohen, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba