Book Review

Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives Dennis Raphael (ed.)
Canadian Scholars' Press Inc., Toronto, 2004

448 pages, $39.95

 

Professor Dr. Benita Cohen, University of Manitoba Canadian Journal of
Public Health, 2005, vol. 96, no. 5, p. 397.

 

 

This book makes a highly significant contribution to the field of Public
Health in Canada.  Edited by Dr. Dennis Raphael at York University's School
of Health Policy and Management in Toronto, it presents the findings of a
conference entitled Social Determinants of Health Across the Life-Span,
which took place in Toronto in 2002. The immediate outcome of the conference
was the drafting by participants of The Toronto Charter for A Healthy Canada
(presented in an appendix), which identified key social determinants of
health (SDOH) especially relevant to Canadians.  This volume explores the
state of each of these determinants and implications of these conditions for
Canadians' health.  It is organized into five

sections: income security and employment; education; food and shelter;
social exclusion; and social policy.

 

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 & Curry-Steven's concluding chapter on surmounting the political and
social barriers to health is particularly noteworthy.  Another highlight is
the inclusion of thought-provoking critical analyses of the social economy
approach in addressing the SDOH (Chapter 22) and the concept of social
inclusion/exclusion (Chapter 17).  An annotated list of recommended readings
and relevant web sites at the end of every chapter is a very useful feature.
There is occasionally some overlap in the discussion in separate chapters
exploring different aspects of the same social determinant, but this does
not detract from the overall strength of the volume, and it could even be
viewed as useful for those individuals who don't have time to read every
chapter.

 

Raphael's book is essential reading for university students, practitioners,
program managers and policymakers in all of the human service sectors.  It
is especially relevant to individuals in the Public Health sector.  Among
many important messages that Public Health needs to pay attention to are the
need for social determinants to have a much higher priority on the health
policy and action agenda in Canada than they do now, and the need for the
health sector to engage more effectively in inter-sectoral action to improve
the SDOH.

 

This excellent volume convincingly makes the argument that reducing social
inequities in Canadian society is essential to Canadians' health. The Public
Health sector should be taking a leading role as activists in pursuing this
goal.

 

 

   Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives

   General Editor, Dennis Raphael, Foreword by Hon. Roy J. Romanow, P.C.,

   O.C., Q.C.

   http://www.cspi.org/books/s/socialdeter.htm

 

 

 


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