Which program example best addresses a social determinant of health?

• A. Policy to expand affordable housing and transit access
• B. Strict punitive policies
• C. Only increasing hospital beds
• D. Individual dieting advice

Answer: (B)

Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people live, work, and get around—things like housing stability, access to safe neighborhoods, and reliable transportation that shape health outcomes over time. A program that expands affordable housing and transit access directly changes these living conditions and improves access to jobs, healthcare, and healthy foods. By tackling the structural environments people depend on, such a policy can reduce health disparities and support overall well-being.

Strict punitive policies don’t alter living conditions or access to resources, and they can create additional barriers that harm health. Merely increasing hospital beds expands treatment capacity but doesn’t address the underlying social and environmental factors that influence health. Providing dieting advice targets individual choices rather than the broader context that makes healthy options easier or harder to choose. So the option that most effectively addresses social determinants of health is the policy expanding affordable housing and transit access.