What is Global Health?

Question 1

Principles endorsed in the Charter of the United Nations (Article 57)

Answer 1

“HEALTH is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

“Unequal development in different countries in the promotion of health and control of disease, especially communicable disease, is a common danger”

“The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being, without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social conditions”

Question 2

Why global health?

Answer 2

• Since WW2, health improvements spread across the world at an unprecedented pace, but disparity remains (Hughes et al. 2011)
• Terminology evolved over the last several decades and becoming increasingly organised, prominent worldwide, explicit and fashionable (Hughes et al. 2011; Koplan et al. 2009; Skolnik 2008)
• Wider dimensions – increasingly social, environmental, political and technological, even historical – health of populations in a global context (Brown et al. 2005)
• Traditionally international health – concerns that cross national borders, protection against global threats and may be addressed by cooperative actions (Jacobsen 2008; United States Institute of Medicine, 1998)

Question 3

Global influences, local impact

Answer 3

• Increasingly multi-polar/ interdependent, complex world
• Rapid economic growth, unequal income, middle-class boom
• Rapid (unruly) urbanisation, population migration (unskilled)
• Restricted urban space, poor transportation networks
• Global influences of trade, marketing and advertising
• Shifts in occupation from agriculture to diversified economy
• Shifts in diet towards high fat and ultra-processed food
• Climate change and environmental threats
• Information systems and technology development
• Age-structural changes (falling fertility and rising longevity)

Question 4

Determinants of health: the 21st century field model

Answer 4

Health and wellbeing

• Physical environment
• Family and individual environment
• Risk factors/ vulnerability
• Education
• Community and social environment
• Income
• Disease and injury
• Health care system
• Disability
• Recovery
• Death