To bring together the terms "social determinants” and "men’s health” draws much-needed attention to disparities and the relevance of issues of power to health outcomes among men. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines social determinants of health as "the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system.”

The WHO webpage dedicated to the topic states further that the circumstances in which people abide "are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices.” It attributes health disparities largely to the social determinants of health.

As maternal and child health continue to lead the funding and research priorities of international policy organizations, it is imperative that the field of men’s health call attention to the concerns of the world’s men, especially poor and socially marginalized men. In its work, the Collins Center for Public Policy is cultivating a global approach to the social determinants of men’s health, emphasizing cross-national comparative analysis of the disparate health outcomes produced by categories and experiences of marginalization, gender differences, and many of the issues associated with access and health systems.

Based on evidence, the Collins Center’s work on men’s health has as a critical premise that overall improvement in health outcomes within and across nations requires male-specific interventions targeted particularly to those men abiding at lower social echelons. Effectively serving poor and socially marginalized men will have both broad discursive and practical benefits for the health of women, children, and communities.

The 2005 Overtown community study in inner-city Miami is a good example. The Overtown Men's Health Study utilized a survey instrument designed for the historic African American neighborhood just north of downtown Miami, Florida USA. The extensive questionnaire, administered during the spring of 2005 to men in Overtown ages 18 years and older, assessed health status, behaviors, knowledge, and access to care. The questionnaire also captured sociodemographic data to render a richer picture of men's social and economic experiences in Overtown, asking about such matters as incarceration, homelessness, police-involvement, education, and employment. Overtown Summary Overtown StatsComplete Report

Learn more about two key social determinant factors in men's health: PovertyIncarceration