1. Write a brief paragraph discussing what social determinants are most relevant to your area of research and why. Consider both structural stratifiers (e.g. income, education, etc) and intermediary determinants such as material and psychosocial circumstances, as described in the WHO reading. Explain why you chose the factors (might use Braveman article from last week to provide justification. The association could be reported in published research or it could be your hypothesized relationship. Consider whether how these factors might function over the lifecourse and/or intergenerationally.
I'm currently working on a study that aims to begin to characterize abortion attitudes of cisgender men who live in states with restrictive abortion laws. Although "attitudes" are not typically conceptualized as social determinants, anti-abortion sentiments/ideals have been dictating access to reproductive health services for decades, and throughout much of the world. They impact health through a number of mechanisms, most notably through writing/passing/voting for policies that inhibit access to this critical health service. Further, these restrictions have a spectrum of impact, stratified mostly on other SDH lines. In considering upsteam predictors of "anti" attitudes, certainly education, religion, class, race, local political context, and other SDH relate in some yet-undetermined way. In this study I explicitly ask about religion and education and how they impacted abortion attitudes, so fortunately with a qualitative study I have to worry less about variable measurement and characterization, although my personal biases are similarly important to understand and mitigate.
2. Write a brief paragraph describing the extent to which an socioecological framework incorporating issues related to social determinants has been applied to your area of research. Are there opportunities for improving our understanding of or approach to disparities in your area with a greater emphasis on a socioecological framework?