Unit | Society, Gender and Health

Social Determinants of Health are responsible for 30-55% of disease outcomes (source: WHO: Social determinants of health). Various factors such as environmental, economic and political challenges, conflicts and violence, and migration, exacerbate inequalities within societies and between global regions. These disproportionately affect the health and well-being of the most socially, economically and structurally vulnerable humans and lead to an unequal distribution of diseases and healthcare resources. Ongoing transformations, such as rapid aging, increasing digitalization, uncontrolled urbanization and changing lifestyles, affect both society and individuals as a whole. However, their impact and outcome on health varies depending on where people live, their gender, race, wealth, education or legal status. Improving health for all on a global and local level requires intersectional approaches that address the relationality of these manifold challenges. The Society, Gender and Health Unit (SGHU) responds to this by conducting high-quality collaborative research with scholars from a wide range of scientific disciplines, such as the humanities, social sciences, medicine and natural sciences, and includes practitioners and diverse non-academic individuals, institutions and communities.

In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, our inter- and transdisciplinary research focuses on applicable solutions that are equitable, just and inclusive. The diffusion of innovative technological solutions for health and well-being is often fraught with challenges of access and adaptation, and must be complemented by locally developed and accepted solutions. Recognizing and building on locally available resources and approaches that can be leveraged for sustainable health by individuals, households, communities and health systems is key to achieving better health for all. Conceptually our scholars are exploring intersections of pragmatic public health perspectives with reflective social science stances, bringing together epidemiology, clinical medicine, medical anthropology, and sociology.