What matters for health? Public views from eight countries

Bibliographic Data

ID21879697
AuthorsSalma M Abdalla (0000-0001-5474-4521, Boston University, corresponding author), Mark Hernandez (0000-0001-8598-1343, Boston University), Shaffi Fazaludeen Koya (0000-0002-1220-5754, Boston University), Samuel B Rosenberg (0000-0003-0537-9729, Boston University), Grace Robbins (Boston University), Laura Magaña (0000-0002-6767-4339, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health), Elaine O Nsoesie (0000-0001-9170-8714, Boston University), Lora Sabin (0000-0002-2782-542X, Boston University), Sandro Galea (0000-0002-7534-0945, Boston University)
Year2022
Volume7
Issue6
Pagese008858
Publication date2022-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
PublisherBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2022-008858
PMID35705225
OpenAlexW4282964577
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited19

Introduction Despite growing scholarship on the social determinants of health (SDoH), wider action remains in its early stages. Broad public understanding of SDoH can help catalyse such action. This paper aimed to document public perception of what matters for health from countries with broad geographic, cultural, linguistic, population composition, language and income level variation. Methods We conducted an online survey in Brazil, China, Germany, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and the USA to assess rankings of what respondents thought matters for health and what they perceived decision makers think matters for health. We analysed the percentages of each determinant rated as the most important for good health using two metrics: the top selection and a composite of the top three selections. We used two-tailed χ 2 test for significance testing between groups. Results Of 8753 respondents, 56.2% (95% CI 55.1% to 57.2%) ranked healthcare as the most important determinant of good health using the composite metric. This ranking was consistent across countries except in China where it appeared second. While genetics was cited as the most important determinant by 22.3% (95% CI 21.5% to 23.2%) of the overall sample with comparable rates in most countries, the percentage increased to 33.3% (95% CI 30.5% to 36.3%) in Germany and 35.9% (95% CI 33.0% to 38.8%) in the USA. Politics was the determinant with the greatest absolute difference (18.5%, 95% CI 17.3% to 19.6%) between what respondents considered matters for health versus what they perceived decision makers think matters for health. Conclusion The majority of people consider healthcare the most important determinant of health, well above other social determinants. This highlights the need for more investment in communication efforts around the importance of SDoH

Health care · Health equity · Political science · Population · Public health · Sociology · Demography · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Health disparities and outcomes · Law · Medicine · Public Health and Social Inequalities