Public policies and the problematic USA population health profile.
International interest in the social determinants of health and their public policy antecedents is increasing. Despite evidence that the USA presents one of the worst population health profiles and public policy environments in support of health among wealthy developed nations - a result of systemic inequities in income, influence, and power - the USA public health gaze is firmly - and narrowly - focused on issues of access to health care, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and individual behavioral risk factors. Reasons for the USA's neglect of structural and public policy issues are explored and Ten Tips for American Public Health Researchers and Workers are presented.
Raphael
Dennis
D
School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ont. M3J 1P3, Canada. draphael@yorku.ca
D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D011640:Public Policy; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology