Adverse commercial determinants of health in low- and middle-income countries

A public health challenge

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22945589
AutoresM M Islam (0000-0003-1330-863X, La Trobe University), Cassandra de Lacy‐Vawdon (0000-0001-5295-0751, La Trobe University), Deborah Gleeson (0000-0001-8021-9130, La Trobe University)
Ano2025
Volume40
Fascículo6
Data de publicação2025-10-30
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditoraOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daaf193
PMID41251001
OpenAlexW4416690779
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas67

Research on the Commercial Determinants of Health (CDoH) has primarily focused on high-income countries and large commercial entities, with limited scholarly literature addressing the practices of smaller commercial entities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, LMICs face the greatest public health challenges resulting from harmful commercial activities, and most commercial entities in these countries are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This perspective article examines harmful practices commonly adopted by SMEs in LMICs, drawing on a published framework of commercial sector practices and portfolio. By sharing examples of these practices, the paper highlights harmful actions of SMEs in LMICs, illustrates the significant public health burden they create, and calls for more research and policy focus on these issues. There is an urgent need for CDoH research in LMIC contexts, which should include documenting and monitoring the activities of commercial actors, including SMEs. It is essential for researchers from LMICs to be involved in this research, and efforts should focus on building capacity in this area. To minimize the harms associated with these commercial practices, local regulatory action is required, alongside support from intergovernmental organizations such as the World Health Organization.

Action (physics) · Capacity building · Developing country · Face (sociological concept) · Perspective (graphical) · Public health · Public sector · Food Safety and Hygiene · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology · Global trade, sustainability, and social impact · Health Policy