TY - JOUR
T1 - Freedom to lead a life we have reason to value? A spotlight on health inequity in the Asia Pacific region
AU - Friel, Sharon
AU - Chiang, Tung-liang
AU - Cho, Youngtae
AU - Guo, Yan
AU - Hashimoto, H.
AU - Jayasinghe, Saroj
AU - Loring, Belinda
AU - Matheson, Don
AU - Nguyen, Huong Thanh
AU - Rao, Mala
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - The Asia Pacific region is home to more than 60% of the world's population. Life expectancy at birth differs between countries by as much as 27 years. This article suggests that asymmetric economic growth, unplanned urbanization, marked environmental change, unequal improvements in daily living conditions, and the unequal distribution and access to quality health care have contributed to health inequities in the Asia Pacific region. Contextually specific evidence and action are needed. This requires ongoing monitoring of health inequities and systematic evaluation of societal changes and their impact on health inequities. It requires better understanding of how to translate theoretical and empirical demonstrations of the social and environmental impact on health inequities into evidence-informed policies and programs, in diverse geopolitical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural contexts across the Asia Pacific region and the range of associated complex policy processes. A spotlight is needed on health inequities and their causes else the status quo will persist.
AB - The Asia Pacific region is home to more than 60% of the world's population. Life expectancy at birth differs between countries by as much as 27 years. This article suggests that asymmetric economic growth, unplanned urbanization, marked environmental change, unequal improvements in daily living conditions, and the unequal distribution and access to quality health care have contributed to health inequities in the Asia Pacific region. Contextually specific evidence and action are needed. This requires ongoing monitoring of health inequities and systematic evaluation of societal changes and their impact on health inequities. It requires better understanding of how to translate theoretical and empirical demonstrations of the social and environmental impact on health inequities into evidence-informed policies and programs, in diverse geopolitical, socioeconomic, and sociocultural contexts across the Asia Pacific region and the range of associated complex policy processes. A spotlight is needed on health inequities and their causes else the status quo will persist.
U2 - 10.1177/1010539511402053
DO - 10.1177/1010539511402053
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 246
EP - 263
JO - Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health
JF - Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health
IS - 2
ER -