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What would be required of structural determinants of health screening and follow-up to improve children's health equity?

Garrity B, Cullen D, Hong H
AMA J Ethics

A growing body of evidence considers how addressing adverse structural drivers of health (aSDoH) can improve children's overall health, thereby reinforcing pediatricians' role in advancing health equity early in life. Yet the optimal strategy for aSDoH screening and intervention remains unclear. This article examines barriers to equitable aSDoH screening, referral, and intervention, questioning the necessity of screening tool validation when the primary goal is to connect families with necessary resources. It also explores caregiver engagement, key considerations behind documentation of results, and the need for multilingual screening.

Garrity B, Cullen D, Hong H. What would be required of structural determinants of health screening and follow-up to improve children's health equity? AMA J Ethics. 2025;27(9):E695-699. DOI:10.1001/amajethics.2025.695. PMID: 40888713

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Publication year
Resource type
Commentaries & Blogs
Population
Children and Youth
Screening research
Yes
Social Determinant of Health
Not Specified