Equity, Social Determinants and Public Health Programmes

This publication takes aims of translating knowledge into concrete, workable actions. Individual chapters represent the major public health programmes at WHO, reflecting the premise that health programmes must lead the way by demonstrating the relevance, feasibility and value of addressing social determinants. Each chapter is organized according to a common framework that allows a fresh but structured look at many familiar problems. Levels in this framework range from the overall structure of society, to differential exposure to risks and disparate vulnerability within populations, to individual differences in health care outcomes and their social and economic consequences.

Throughout the volume, an effort is made to identify entry-points, within existing health programmes, for interventions that address the upstream causes of ill-health. Possible sources of resistance or opposition to change are also consistently identified. The result is a sound and systematic analysis that gives many long-standing obstacles to better health a fresh perspective with an encouraging message.

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