TABLE 2.

Example Structural Codes for Social Determinants of Health

Determinant	Valence	Code	Definitiona	Exemplar quote
Race	Positive	~R	Compared to people of other races, is treated equally as a Black/African American and her race positively impacts her health experiences and/or her health outcomes	As far as um… African American woman, I can say I’m glad to be who He created me to be
	Negative	R	Compared to people of other races, is treated unequally as a Black/African American and her race negatively impacts her health experiences and/or health outcomes	…still a lot of prejudice going on ever though sometimes it’s not as visible as it used to be.
Gender	Positive	~G	Compared to men, is treated equally and her gender positively impacts her health experiences and/or her health outcomes	I mean, I’m not biased to say that women are stronger than men, but a lot of men take it [HIV] as a negative impact on their life and just, like it’s the end of the world…. I’m just strong will power)
	Negative	G	Compared to men, is treated unequally and her gender negatively impacts her health experiences and/or her health outcomes	‘Cause I feel like being Black it’s hard already, that’s already one strike and I’m a woman, that’s a second. So that’s a lot it’s like you got to fight your way all the way through…Yeah, you have to fight to keep your place.
HIV-stigma	Negative	S	Perceives or experiences prejudice, discounting, discrediting or discrimination because people know or believe she has HIV/AIDs	I still have a stigma about it – so it’s hard to go out to the world…. I’m too ashamed or embarrassed.
Class	Positive	~C	Has material resources needed to both promote and protect her health and the health of her children	So yeah I think I have the resources that I need to take care of myself pretty well
	Negative	C	Does not have the material resources needed to both promote and protect her health and/or the health of her children	Bills can make you sick
Motherhood	Positive	~M	Relationship she has with her dependent children is positive in nature and positively impacts her overall health	And having my children were the best thing that could ever happen to me …
	Negative	M	Relationship she has with her dependent children is negative in nature and negatively impacts her overall health	Taking care of kids, having kids, having children running around and working…. And I rescheduled, I rescheduled, I rescheduled [doctor appointments].
Non-determinant		nd	Construct in question (race, class, gender, motherhood or HIV-related stigma) is not a determinant or factor in her health experiences and outcomes	I feel like if I had the opportunity there would be some stigma there. But I guess I have you know, I haven’t- [experienced it].

Note. AIDS = acquired immune deficiency syndrome; dHIV = human immunodeficiency virus.

^aAll definitions involve participant description as stated.