Health inequalities in Pakistan

By : Quratulain

Health inequalities in Pakistan Health inequalities in Pakistan are linked with several factors such as severe poverty, illiteracy, lack of knowledge, and awareness of child healthcare, singularly inadequate provision of health services, and poor infrastructure. A person’s health can be influenced by factors such as income, employment, access to healthcare services, education, provision of economic and social opportunities, and the conditions they live in. In Pakistan, urban men of low and middle economic status are more likely to smoke than men of high economic status or those in rural areas. They suggest that an individual’s health also depends on their socioeconomic conditions. around 10% of school-aged children in the world are estimated to be overweight, a quarter of whom are obese. The poor, on the other hand, are generally the most disadvantaged in the society and they do not enjoy good health. Poverty and health inequality particularly in children is pervasive in Pakistan. The determinants of poverty in Pakistan are location, large household size, high dependency ratio, illiteracy, low education, large informal sector employment, and lack of access to basic utilities. According to WHO report, all the countries ranked lowest on child health equality are in sub-Saharan Africa, except for Afghanistan and Pakistan where child mortality is still relatively high. The most common social determinants of health inequality and morbidity in Pakistan are location (Rural/Urban), literacy, level of education, gender, and poverty. Child health inequality, diarrhea, healthcare provision, immunization, Pakistan, poverty. So According to recommendations of CSDH, children need safe, healthy, supporting, nurturing, caring, and responsive living environments. Since children’s health does not depend on their personal choice, examination of their socioeconomic background may provide a good insight into their health status and inequality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine child health inequalities in Pakistan and to investigate their dimensions. And also Healthcare and health promotion should be on the national agenda with improvement of other socioeconomic indicators such as economic growth, employment, education, infrastructure development etc. The role of government here for raising the level of awareness of the people, allocation of resources, and legislating if necessary is critical. Community partnership and ownership of healthcare and promotion could be effective in improving health provision and reducing inequalities in Pakistan. BECAUSE wellbeing of a society is linked with good health