1*PhD Scholar, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar, 801106, India. ORCID: 0000-0002-5333-4253. Email: anushka_2221hs08@iitp.ac.in
2Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar, 801106, India. ORCID: 0000-0003-4581-3518. Email: aditya.raj@iitp.ac.in
Received: 10th Dec, 2025; Revised: 12th Feb 2026; Accepted: 11th Feb, 2026; Available Online: 10th March, 2026
Health inequalities are largely shaped by social determinants like employment, education, and socioeconomic position, environmental factors, and medical care accessibility. Understanding how these determinants influence health outcomes is essential for addressing persistent disparities across populations. This study used PRISMA standards to conduct a systematic literature review to analyse research trends and the knowledge structure related to health inequalities and social determinants of health. Articles were retrieved by employing predetermined search phrases in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. After screening and eligibility assessment, ten studies were included for final analysis. The findings indicate that socioeconomic status, income inequality, education and employment conditions, housing stability, and healthcare accessibility are major determinants influencing health outcomes. The reviewed studies highlighted strong associations between disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions and increased risks of mortality, cardiovascular diseases, poor mental health, and limited healthcare access. Major research themes included socioeconomic inequality, education and employment disparities, environmental determinants, healthcare accessibility, and lifestyle behaviours. Health inequalities arise from complex interactions among multiple social determinants. Addressing these disparities requires interdisciplinary research and policy interventions that target structural and socioeconomic determinants to promote equitable health outcomes globally.
Keywords: Health inequalities; Social determinants of health; Health disparities; Socioeconomic status; Public health policy
How to cite this article: Sinha A, Raj A. Health Inequalities and Social Determinants of Health: Research Trends and Knowledge Structure. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(3): 445-452. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.3.51
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None