A community health nurse is researching social determinants of health in the differing populations they serve. The nurse should identify that which of the following factors place populations at the highest risk for negative health outcomes?

Rationale: A. Limited transportation can create barriers to healthcare, but it is one of many contributing factors and generally affects access rather than being a primary determinant of health outcomes. B. Poverty is a major social determinant of health that affects nearly all aspects of a person’s life, including access to nutritious food, safe housing, healthcare services, education, and employment. Populations living in poverty face the highest risk for negative health outcomes because financial instability impacts multiple domains of health simultaneously. C. Genetics can influence susceptibility to certain diseases, but unlike social determinants, genetics is not modifiable and does not affect broad populations in the same way socioeconomic factors do. Genetics alone does not place populations at the highest risk for negative health outcomes. D. Language barriers can impede communication and access to healthcare, affecting understanding of treatment and health education. However, they are a contributing factor rather than a primary determinant of overall health risk across populations.