The social factors and the physical environment are especially important because they represent the conditions in which people are born, work, and play. Neighborhoods with affordable healthy food, safe and accessible housing, and quality employment opportunities can positively influence behaviors and help to create healthy lifestyles. The World Health Organization and others call the living conditions that can affect health and quality of life the “social determinants of health”.
Healthy People (HP) 2020 highlights the importance of addressing the social determinants of health by including as one of its four overarching goals, “Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all”. CHSI 2015 supports this goal by including a broad range of indicators, including multiple indicators related to the social and physical environment.
Check out CHSI 2015 today!