Social determinants of health implications

This book is premised upon the key philosophies of primary health care principles of access equity and the right to health addressing social determinants of health using a comprehensive approach of prevention and curative with equitable provision of basic health services such as safe water, sanitation, nutrition for all populations. The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. Unfortunately, conditions are determined by the distribution of power, money. Thus inequities arise due to lack of access to equal opportunities. In Zimbabwe inequities were historically framed on race resulting in biased distribution of resources. Post-independence efforts were directed towards reducing inequities in safe water -sanitation and access to health care. This book presents evidence of how social determinants of health such as income, education, geographical setting, and gender still contribute to inequities in the access to clean water, safe sanitation, use of fossil fuel, health insurance and the ability to pay for health services. Thus historical status continues to limit equitable access to health services.