Publication: Inequalitites in Child Health : Are We Narrowing the Gap?
Date
2003-05
ISSN
Published
2003-05
Author(s)
Abstract
This paper reviews what is known about
the causes of socioeconomic inequalities in child health and
thus the points where programs aimed at reducing child
health inequalities should be focused. The proximate
determinants affect child health directly and include food
and nutrition, indoor air pollution, hygiene and other
preventive activities, and care during illness. The
underlying determinants affect outcomes indirectly through
their effect on the proximate determinants, and include
financial barriers, health care provision, maternal
education, and water, sanitation and the home environment.
The authors review the socioeconomic distribution of both
determinants and find that for most determinants, poor
children fare significantly worse than their better-off
peers. We also overview what is known about the success of
actual programs in narrowing socioeconomic inequalities in
child health. The paper ends with lessons learned and with
a call for action - for a new approach to improving the
health of all children that is evidence-based, broad, and
multifaceted, and for the development of better evidence on
how programs can reduce child health inequalities.
Citation
“Wagstaff, Adam; Bustreo, Flavia; Bryce, Jennifer; Claeson, Mariam; Axelsson, Henrik. 2003. Inequalitites in Child Health : Are We Narrowing the Gap?. HNP discussion paper series;. © http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/8a7fe8f3-c222-5e3b-be67-3ecda37f4ff2 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”