What is the Social Determinants of Health Digital Library (SDOH-DL)?

The Social Determinants of Health Digital Library (SDOH-DL) is an initiative aimed at expanding and systematizing data and metadata resources for the study of the social determinants of health using routinely collected data in the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.

Objectives of the Social Determinants of Health Digital Library

The SDOH-DL has the following objectives:

• To acquire new population-based datasets that contain information on the social determinants of health (SDOH), linkable to the 90+ existing datasets available in the Manitoba Population Research Data Repository.
• To update existing SDOH-related variables and to create new ones using linked routinely collected data, such as administrative health and social data, survey data, registries, and electronic medical records.
• To define various population cohorts based on the SDOH, such as immigrants, ethnic minorities, military veterans and public safety personnel.
• To enhance capabilities in research using family-based data.
• Generate resources that can support the training of those interested in SDOH research using administrative data.

Project Leads of the Social Determinants of Health Digital Library

The SDOH-DL is led by Drs. Marcelo Urquia and Alyson Mahar and supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Research Manitoba, and the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.

• Dr. Marcelo Urquia:
  • holds a Canada Research Chair in Applied Population Health;
  • is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba; and
  • a Research Scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.

• Dr. Alyson Mahar:
  • is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba; and
  • a Research Scientist at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.