Tackling Socioeconomic Inequalities and Non-Communicable Diseases in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries Under the Sustainable Development Agenda
2018
The article from The Lancet studies the connection between socioeconomic status (SES) and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries. The authors reviewed 283 relevant studies conducted over the last 30 years, examining the links between SES, health inequalities, education, gender equity, and a number of risk factors. A majority of studies conducted after 2000 report a positive association between poverty and NCDs, meaning those with lower wealth and income levels are found to have higher levels of poor health due to NCDs. The authors point out that NCDs are neglected around the world and cause people to experience various types of shocks related to their health and socioeconomic well-being. They advocate for universal health coverage programs to focus on vulnerable populations that are most at risk for NCDs. These recommended social sector policies would link together development policies with the specific goal of addressing NCDs.
This article is second in a Lancet series of five papers on NCDs and economics that describes the extent to which socioeconomic factors drive trends in NCDs, the equity impacts of health policies designed to reduce disease burden, and the ways in which NCD control can result in improved economic growth.
Source:
Niessen LW et al. Tackling Socioeconomic Inequalities and Non-Communicable Diseases in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries Under the Sustainable Development Agenda. The Lancet 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30482-3.