Power Structures and Health Equity: Analyzing Structural Determinants of Healthcare Access and Outcomes
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue of Societies focuses on examining the structural determinants of health inequities through social science and interdisciplinary lenses. Its scope encompasses research investigating how institutional power dynamics, social structures, and systemic factors influence healthcare access, patient-provider relationships, and health outcomes across diverse populations. The purpose of this collection is twofold: first, to advance theoretical frameworks that conceptualize health as fundamentally shaped by social forces beyond individual choice; and second, to identify actionable pathways toward transforming healthcare systems to better serve marginalized communities. The issue will prioritize research utilizing qualitative methodologies and community-engaged approaches that center the voices and lived experiences of those most affected by health disparities. Contributors are encouraged to examine both the mechanisms through which structural inequities manifest in healthcare settings and innovative interventions that successfully address these systemic barriers.
This collection will supplement existing research by foregrounding structural approaches that connect individual health experiences to broader institutional arrangements and power relations. By bringing social science theory into conversation with public health research, the issue will offer conceptual frameworks that can help scholars, practitioners, and policymakers develop more comprehensive understandings of health equity challenges and their potential solutions. The Special Issue will contribute to emerging scholarship on structural competency in healthcare by providing empirical examples of how structural forces shape clinical encounters and by highlighting community-based interventions that address the root causes of health disparities rather than merely their symptoms.
Contributions have to follow one of the three categories of papers (article, conceptual paper, or review) of the journal and address the topic of the Special Issue.
Prof. Dr. Brittany C. Slatton
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as conceptual papers are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- structural determinants of health
- health equity
- patient–provider dynamics
- healthcare access
- qualitative health research
- community-engaged research
- health disparities
- institutional barriers
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
