Social determinants of health and the neonate in the neonatal intensive care

It is increasingly recognised that social determinants of health such as socioeconomic inequalities, parental education level, addiction behaviors, mental health difficulties and breast-feeding rates all influence immediate and long-term outcomes in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) graduates. Awareness, recognition and appropriate management of these risks may help alleviate some of these effects. This review looks at various social determinants and their effects on patients and families in the NICU.