Inhoud
Chapter 1: the principles and goals of global health..............................................................................2
Chapter 2: health determinants, measurements and the status of health globally...............................4
1: Introduction to International Public Health and general course information.....................................7
2: Health, Education, Poverty and the Economy..................................................................................10
3: Health Determinants, Measurements and Trends............................................................................16
4: Introduction to Health systems........................................................................................................22
5: Health Policy and Governance..........................................................................................................28
6: Equal Access to Health Services........................................................................................................32
7: Globalization and Health..................................................................................................................34
8: Culture, Religion and Health.............................................................................................................35
9: Gender and Health...........................................................................................................................38
10: Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals...................................................45
11: Ethical and Human Rights Concerns in Global Health.....................................................................50
12: Global Co-operation in International Public Health........................................................................55
,Chapter 1: the principles and goals of global health
Reasons to study global health
- To better understand the progress made so far in addressing global health problems.
- To better understand the most important global health challenges that remains and learn
how to address them rapidly, effectively, efficiently and fairly.
- To understand the important link between health and development: poor health poor
development ( in terms of mental and physical potential, academic performance leading to
future economic prospects)
- The intersectoral nature of many global health concerns
- The need for different actors to work together to address global health concerns
Definitions
Health = ‘’Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity’’
Public health = ‘’The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical
and mental health and efficiency through organized community efforts toward
- a sanitary environment;
- the control of community infections;
- the education of the individual in principles of personal hygiene;
- the organization of medical and nursing service for the early diagnosis and treatment of
disease;
- the development of the social machinery to ensure to every individual in the community a
standard of living adequate for the maintenance of health’’
most important difference between public health and medicine is in public health the focus is on the
health of populations and in medicine the focus is on the health of an individual + public health pays
more attention to prevention of disease
Global health = a global perspective on public health
- issues that people face in common (transnational health issues
- problems that require cooperative actions (such as noncommunicable diseases but also the
unfinished agenda in LICs)
One health = ‘’the integrative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to
attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment.
Planetary health = the health of human civilisation and the state of the natural systems on which it
depends.
Global health concepts
- determinants and social determinants of health
- key risk factors for different health conditions
- global burden of disease
, - measurement of health status
- demographic and epidemiologic transitions
- organization and functions of health systems
- links among health, education, development, poverty and equity
The sustainable development goals (SDGs) = 17 goals of which some have a very direct link, such as
‘ensure healthy life and promote well-being for all at all ages’, others have a more indirect link to
health such as ‘no poverty’, ‘zero hunger’, ‘quality education’, ‘clean water and sanitation’.
, Chapter 2: health determinants, measurements and the
status of health globally
Determinant of health = ‘’range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors which
determine the health status of individuals or populations’’
1. factors that relate to the personal and inborn features of individuals:
a. genetic makeup
b. sex
c. age
2. individual lifestyle factors, people’s own health practices and behaviours
a. being able to identify illness
b. nutrition
c. smoking?
d. Driving safely
e. Physical activity
3. Living and working conditions
a. Housing
b. Access to safe water and sanitation
c. Access to nutritious food
d. Access to health services
4. General socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions
a. Education is an important determinant because it relates to knowledge of good
health practice, provides opportunities for gaining skills, getting better employment,
raising’s one’s income and enhancing one’s social status, which are all related to
health
b. Culture shapes how one feels about health and illness and the use of health practices
c. Environment: for example working conditions, air quality, drinking water and
sanitation
5. Government’s approach to policies and programs in the health (and other) sector
More attention to the social determinants because
- Health status is improving in some places in the world but not in others
- There are enormous differences in the health status of individuals within countries as well as
across countries
- The health differences within countries are closely linked to social disadvantage
- Many of these differences should be considered avoidable, and they relate to the way in
which people live and work and the health systems that should serve them
- People’s life circumstances and health are profoundly related to political, social and
economic forces
- Countries need to ensure that these forces are oriented toward improving the life
circumstances (and thereby the health) of the poor
