Everyone’s social circumstances will impact their life chances. Rarely do individuals stop to analyze their cumulative social circumstances and events over their lifetime to better understand their current life chances. Many just assume that this is the hand that was dealt to them and deal with their current circumstances. Let’s apply this concept to your current and potentially your future health. Consider the following 25 categories and how they relate to your life chances from birth to now and to your health.

___ prenatal care
___ immunizations

___ well-baby checkups
___ well-child checkups
___ balanced and nutritious diet
___ dental checkups
___ parent(s) access to pediatrician or primary care physician
___ parents(s) access to parental education for childrearing
___ parent(s) employment
___ parent(s) education
___ parent(s) income
___ parent(s) race or ethnicity
___ parent(s) sexual orientation
___ age of parent(s) at birth

___ parent(s) stress level
___ parent(s) social support
___ parent(s) community support
___ childcare and caregivers

___ nationality and citizenship
___ home atmosphere
___ neighborhood
___ environmental and safety factors
___ religious participation
___ friendships
___ sex (male/female)

Some of the determinants you may have to ask your parent(s). For example, did your mother have prenatal care? Did you receive all of your immunizations? Did your parent(s) schedule regular well-baby and well-child checkups? Did you parent(s) attend birthing or parenting classes? Do you know the condition of your house when you were born? Did you live in a safe neighborhood without pollution and other hazards? All of these questions are important in determining your life chances in regard to health up to this point in your life.