The personal, social, cultural, economic and environmental factors that influence the health status of individuals or populations.
World Health Organization. Definitions. 2009.
Determinants of health are factors which influence health status and determine health differentials or health inequalities.
They are many and varied and include, for example:
- Natural, biological factors, such as age, gender and ethnicity.
- Behaviour and lifestyles, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and physical exercise.
- The physical and social environment, including housing quality, the workplace and the wider urban and rural environment.
- Access to health care.
All of these are closely interlinked and differentials in their distribution lead to health inequalities.