Structural determinants refer to root causes of inequity within communities; which best describes them?

• A. Personal hygiene
• B. Pay, working conditions, housing, and education
• C. Genetic factors only
• D. Access to technology gadgets

Answer: (B)

Structural determinants are the social and economic conditions that shape how health is distributed in a community. Pay, working conditions, housing, and education reflect these broad systems by influencing who can access resources, stay safe, and maintain good health. For example, low pay can limit access to nutritious food and healthcare; substandard housing can expose people to hazards; unstable or unsafe work affects physical and mental health; and education level affects health literacy and opportunities. In contrast, personal hygiene is an individual behavior, genetic factors are biological, and access to gadgets is a resource issue that doesn’t by itself capture the systemic forces driving inequity. So, pay, working conditions, housing, and education best describe structural determinants.