Social drivers of health (SDoH)
SDoH are the social factors that affect children and families both positively and negatively. They include things like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, social support networks, and access to health care. SDoH encompass both protective factors (such as family relationships and support, childcare, parental well-being) and risk factors (such as racism, poverty, food/housing insecurity, substance use, intimate partner violence). SDoH have a major impact on health outcomes, especially for families experiencing barriers or fewer resources.

Each family is unique and the challenges they experience during pregnancy and the first years after delivery can change frequently, especially among families affected by prenatal opioid use. It is important that pediatricians complete an assessment for SDoH at every visit. The assessment addresses an array of factors that could affect the child’s social-emotional health and helps to ensure the infant and the family have all the supports they need.

For a list of commonly used SDoH assessments, see the STAR Center Screening Tool Finder and the resources listed in the Resources tab of this course.