Applying the Social Determinants of Health to Understand the Impacts of Engineering on Indigenous Communities

Public and population health have recently received increased attention in society. Specifically, the social determinants of health, which describe 12 social and economic factors have been used as a framework to understand the complexity of health. Engineering has a unique position in society to influence these factors, however, there has been limited appreciation for the opportunities for engineering projects to influence the broader determinants of health and to incorporate these concepts into engineering education, despite the recognition from health and public health professionals of their importance. The purpose of this narrative participatory action research study is to explore the connection between engineering and the social determinants of health in two First Nations communities in [redacted]. Narrative conversations with two researcher-participants from [redacted]and [redacted] were had over three months to listen to the lived experiences of these community members and explore the impact of engineering on health. Their stories demonstrate that engineering has the potential to greatly affect the physical environment, and in turn influence population health. As engineers, it can be difficult to consider the socioeconomic effects of engineering projects on stakeholders due to the at times, indirect cause and effect relationship. This study identifies opportunities for engineers to consider and improve some aspects of population health but leaves us to wrestle with the impact of engineering on complex social elements.