Building a Social Justice Narrative for Public Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 901-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Wallack
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Social ◽  
Collective Processes

Public health is the place where science, policy, politics, and activism converge. Each public health issue is a snapshot where we can see the unfolding of the collective processes that define who we are, what we believe, and what we value as a society. Our professional strength is our commitment to community and social justice values, but we are challenged to effectively communicate these values in an individualistic, market-dominated society. It is this language of community, and the values it represents, that must be the core of the narrative animating a more just and healthier society. A public health perspective characterized by social justice argues that public health problems are primarily socially generated and can be predicted based on the level of injustice and inequality in a society. Thus, the solutions to such problems must be through progressive social and public health policies and are best understood as a collective responsibility shared across the various levels of society. When we can develop a narrative that effectively communicates the social justice values that are the foundation of this perspective, ours will be a society that better understands the meaning of public health and responds more appropriately to its challenges. We will then be collectively more effective in better translating our values into caring, and more effective, public policy. This will not be easy, but it will be necessary.

scholarly journals Health Equity Lens Embedded in the Public Health Policies of Saudi Arabia: A Qualitative Document Analysis

SAGE Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402096277
Author(s):  
Leena Eklund Karlsson ◽  
Anne Leena Ikonen ◽  
Kothar Mohammed Alqahtani ◽  
Pernille Tanggaard Andersen ◽  
Subash Thapa
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The People ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Related

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), no studies have been documented to analyze the equity aspects of public health policies. The aims of the study were to identify policy documents in the KSA relevant to public health and to explore whether these include an equity approach. Twenty health-related documents were identified from various ministries’ websites and analyzed through directed content analysis. The results showed that the term “equity” was neither defined nor explained in the documents and suggestions on how to tackle health inequities were lacking. None of the suggested measures communicated an explicit focus on promoting health equity or the social gradient. Several upstream, midstream, and downstream measures were suggested to improve justice and public health for the people. The study reveals that there is a need for an in-depth assessment of the policy measures across sectors and their influence on health equity to inform future health policy development and action in the KSA.

scholarly journals A Review of Cases of Marijuana and Violence

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 1578
Author(s):  
Norman S. Miller ◽  
Redon Ipeku ◽  
Thersilla Oberbarnscheidt
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
The United States ◽  
Personality Change ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Loss Of Contact

Marijuana is the most consumed illicit drug in the world, with over 192 million users. Due to the current legalization push of marijuana in the United States, there has been a lack of oversight regarding its public health policies, as marijuana advocates downplay the drug’s negative effects. This paper’s approach is from a public health perspective, focusing specifically on the cases of violence amongst some marijuana users. Here, we present 14 cases of violence with chronic marijuana users that highlight reoccurring consequences of: marijuana induced paranoia (exaggerated, unfounded distrust) and marijuana induced psychosis (radical personality change, loss of contact with reality). When individuals suffering from pre-existing medical conditions use marijuana in an attempt to alleviate their symptoms, ultimately this worsens their conditions over time. Although marijuana effects depend on the individual’s endocannabinoid receptors (which control behavioral functions, like aggression) and the potency level of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the drug, scientifically documented links between certain marijuana users and violence do exist. Wider public awareness of the risks and side effects of marijuana, as well as a more prudent health policy, and government agency monitoring of the drug’s composition, creation, and distribution, are needed and recommended.

Norwegian Public Health Policy: Revitalization of the Social Democratic Welfare State?

2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Fosse
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Welfare State ◽  
State Model ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Social Democratic ◽  
The Social ◽  
Structural Measures

Norway is part of the so-called social democratic welfare state model, which is characterized by its emphasis on solidarity and redistribution among social groups. The concepts of upstream and downstream policy measures may be useful to characterize different approaches to public health policies: upstream measures would be structural measures, in line with the social democratic welfare state model, while downstream measures would be more targeted at individuals or groups at some sort of risk. The aim of this article is to analyze national policies in Norway and how these may be characterized in terms of upstream and downstream factors. Health promotion and public health policies have been high on the Norwegian political agenda for two decades. However, the national policy emphasis has shifted between strategies aimed at individuals and structural strategies—that is, between downstream and upstream measures. Until 2003, policies included mainly downstream measures, but since then a policy shift has taken place and current policy includes an emphasis on upstream measures. This policy was strengthened after a left-wing coalition came into government in 2005. It may be argued that the present policy represents a revitalization of universal and structural measures, in line with the social democratic welfare state model.

scholarly journals INTEGRALITY IN HEALTH CARE FOR THE ELDERLY: A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 311-317
Author(s):  
Mírian Dias Moreira e Silva ◽  
Keidson Rodrigues de Brito ◽  
André Dias Moreira e Silva ◽  
GINA ANDRADE ABDALA ◽  
Maria Dyrce Dias Meira
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Comprehensive Care ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Goods And Services ◽  
Care For The Elderly

Introduction: the demands for goods and services aimed at the health needs of the elderly require a different perspective that considers the human being in all its dimensions: biopsychosocial and spiritual. Objective: to reflect on the assistance strategies that impact comprehensive care for the elderly, based on public health policies. Methodology: reflective essay that contextualizes comprehensive care for the elderly. Results: the content is presented in four sections: "Population aging in Brazil" "Public Health Policies: a brief historical recovery"; "Comprehensiveness in health care: practices and challenges" and, finally, "Training to work in the health of the elderly and communication strategies". Conclusion: it is clear that different care strategies, including verbal and non-verbal communication, contribute to greater comprehensiveness and humanization in the care of the elderly. It also appears that public health policies depend on intersectoral integration to provide care for the elderly in a holistic way.

Uma experiência de formação para a participação social

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-84
Author(s):  
Francisca Fabiana da Silva ◽  
José Carlos Martins da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
The Political ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Educational Materials ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The Social

Resumo: O presente trabalho configura-se como um estudo acerca da atuação da Pastoral da Criança no controle social das políticas públicas de saúde, especificamente no desenvolvimento de processos de formação que favorecem a participação social e o exercício da cidadania, que constituem práticas fundamentais para a construção da sociedade do Bem Viver. As atividades realizadas pelos voluntários, capacitados pela Pastoral da Criança, nos espaços políticos e sociais, semeiam esperança junto a um povo sofrido, esquecido pela sua condição social, ao mesmo tempo que fortalecem a comunidade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, em que analisamos a ação da entidade à luz dos materiais educativos produzidos para formação e acompanhamento dos agentes voluntários. Como pressupostos teóricos utilizamos, entre outros, os estudos de Gonh (2011), Pastoral da Criança (2000, 2008) e Nascimento (2006). Os resultados revelam que as ações desenvolvidas pela Pastoral da Criança aliadas à participação política dos voluntários, nos conselhos municipais de saúde e na comunidade, contribuem para a melhoria das políticas públicas de saúde e se constituem como práticas sociais efetivas de construção da cidadania.  Palavras-chave: Formação; Participação Social; Saúde; Cidadania.  Abstract: The present work is a study about the performance of Pastoral da Criança in the social control of public health policies, which are fundamental practices for the construction of the society of well live. The activities carried out by volunteers, trained by Pastoral da Criança, in the political and social spaces, hey sow hope together with the suffering people, forgotten by their social condition, at the same time that they strengthen the community. This is a qualitative research, in which we analyze the action of the entity in the light of the educational materials produced for training and follow-up of volunteer agents. As theoretical presuppositions, we use, among others, the studies of Gonh (2011), Pastoral da Criança (2000, 2008) and Nascimento (2006). The results show that the actions developed by Pastoral da Criança, together with the political participation of the volunteers, in the municipal health councils and in the community, contribute to the improvement of public health policies and constitute effective social practices for the construction of citizenship.  Keywords: Formation; Social Participation; health; Citizenship.   REFERÊNCIAS  BRASIL. Constituição (1988). Constituição Federal. República Federativa do Brasil. Brasília: Senado Federal, 1988.    _____. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria da Atenção à Saúde. Lei 8.080 de 19 de setembro de 1990. Dispõe sobre as condições para a promoção, proteção e recuperação da saúde, a organização e o funcionamento dos serviços correspondentes e dá outras providências. Diário Oficial da União.  Brasília, DF, 1990.  CONFERENCIA NACIONAL DOS BISPOS DO BRASIL. Fraternidade e Política: justiça e paz se abraçaram: Manual/CNBB. São Paulo: Salesiana Dom Bosco, 1996.   ______. Compêndio da doutrina Social da Igreja / Pontifício Conselho “justiça e paz”. 4 ed. São Paulo: Paulinas, 2008.   GOHN, Maria da Glória. Conselhos gestores e participação sociopolítica. São Paulo: Cortez, 2011.   GIL, Antonio Carlos. Métodos e técnicas da pesquisa social. 6. ed. São Paulo: Atlas, 2011.  INSTITUTO BRASILEIRO DE GEOGRAFIA E ESTATÍSTICA. Censo demográfico 2010: população residente, resultados do universo segundo mesorregiões, microregiões, municípios, distritos, subdistritos e bairros: Rio Grande do Norte. [online]: IBGE, 2010. Disponível em: <http://www.ibge.com.br>. Acesso em: 03 jan. 2014.  ISTITUTO GOVERNAR. Revista Governar Cidades. Ano 1. n.O1, p. 8-16, fev. 2010.  NASCIMENTO, José Mateus. Um Evangelho segundo a Pastoral da Criança: por uma pedagogia de sobrevivência.  2006. 265f. Tese (Doutorado em Educação) – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Centro de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, 2006. PASTORAL DA CRIANÇA. Guia do líder da Pastoral da Criança: Para países de língua portuguesa. 22. ed. Curitiba. 2000.  _____. O Articulador junto ao conselho de saúde. Curitiba: [s.n.], 2008. (Série Participação e Controle Social).  REIMBERG, Cristiane Oliveira. Dois olhares sobre a relação entre jornalismo e a Pastoral da Criança: a comunicação popular do jornal da entidade e a cobertura jornalística da Folha de S.Paulo. São Paulo. 164f. Monografia (Especialização em Jornalismo Social) - Coordenadoria Geral de Especialização, Aperfeiçoamento e Extensão. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo. São Paulo, 2006.  

More Than a Message: Framing Public Health Advocacy to Change Corporate Practices

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Dorfman ◽  
Lawrence Wallack ◽  
Katie Woodruff
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Message Framing ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Public Health Advocacy

Framing battles in public health illustrate the tension in our society between individual freedom and collective responsibility. This article describes how two frames, market justice and social justice, first articulated in a public health context by Dan Beauchamp, influence public dialogue on the health consequences of corporate practices. The authors argue that public health advocates must articulate the social justice values motivating the changes they seek in specific policy battles that will be debated in the context of news coverage. The authors conclude with lessons for health education practitioners who need to frame public health issues in contentious and controversial policy contexts. Specific lessons include the importance of understanding the existing values and beliefs motivating the public health change being sought, the benefits of articulating core messages that correspond to shared values, and the necessity of developing media skills to compete effectively with adversaries in public debate.

Representações sociais das práticas alimentares entre adolescentes grávidas de uma comunidade em Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gorete Lucena de Vasconcelos ◽  
Sheyla Costa de Oliveira ◽  
Ednaldo Cavalcante de Araújo ◽  
Cleide Maria Pontes ◽  
Inez Maria Tenório ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Social Representation ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Cultural Perspective ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Data Saturation

ABSTRACTObjective: to analyze the social representation of teenagers pregnant on the feeding practices during pregnancy in a community from Recife city, Pernambuco, Brazil. Methodology: qualitative study whose population will be adolescents pregnant. The sampling is intended by the criterion of homogeneity wide. The clipping will be defined by empirical data saturation. As instruments for data collection will be used: a script of interview with closed questions, a script of interview with guiding questions and the use of photographs. Analyzes the data based on social representation, a social and cultural perspective. Results expected: expect it will get data on the knowledge of the magnitude of the problems in eating habits of adolescents during pregnancy subsidizing the public health policies, minimizing adverse effects on health and adolescent's health. Descriptors: adolescents; pregnancy; eating habits.RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a representação social de adolescentes grávidas sobre as práticas  alimentares durante a gravidez  em uma comunidade do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. Metodologia: estudo qualitativo cuja população será de adolescentes grávidas. A amostragem será intencional pelo critério de homogeneidade ampla. O recorte empírico será definido pela saturação dos dados. Como instrumentos para coleta de dados serão utilizados: um roteiro de entrevista com questões fechadas, um roteiro de entrevista contendo questões norteadoras e o uso de fotografias.  Analisaremos os dados à luz da representação social, numa perspectiva cultural e social. Resultados esperados: esperar-se-á, obter dados sobre o conhecimento da magnitude dos problemas dos hábitos alimentares das adolescentes durante a gravidez subsidiando as políticas públicas de saúde, minimizando efeitos adversos sobre a saúde da adolescente e do concepto. Descritores: adolescente; gravidez; hábitos alimentares.RESUMENObjetivo: analizar la representación social de las adolescentes embarazadas en las prácticas de alimentación durante el embarazo en una comunidad de Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. Metodología: estudio cualitativo cuya población és de las adolescentes embarazadas. El muestreo es por el criterio de homogeneidad. El corte será definido por la saturación de los datos empíricos. Como instrumentos para la recogida de datos se utilizarán: un guión de entrevista con preguntas cerradas, un guión de entrevista con preguntas y orientar el uso de fotografías. Analiza los datos la luz de la representación social, una perspectiva social y cultural. Resultados: se esperan obtener datos sobre el conocimiento de la magnitud de los problemas en los hábitos alimenticios de las adolescentes durante el embarazo subsidiar la políticas de salud pública, minimizando los efectos adversos sobre la salud y la salud de los adolescentes. Descriptores: adolescência; embarazo; hábitos de alimentación.

Physicians, the State and Public Health in Chile, 1881–1891

1995 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl J. Murdock
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Public Health Policy ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Deep Roots ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The Social

AbstractThis study of public health policy in Chile uncovers some of the social tensions in that country during the 1880s, and illustrates the fragmentation of the Chilean elite prior to the Revolution of 1891. The Chilean government's controversial and contested public health policies implied the increasing bureaucratic organisation and regulation of society. The justifications offered for these policies by central government officials reveal both the deep roots in Chilean politics of a powerful Executive, and the early linkage between the ‘scientific discourses’ of medical professionals and the bureaucratic centralisation of state power.

scholarly journals Skills building seminar: How can data on adolescents’ health behavior contribute to public health policies? Lessons from HBSC

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Research And Policy

Abstract Adolescents (10-19) are usually thought of as rather healthy and as low users of health care compared with other age groups. Nevertheless, adolescence is a crucial and challenging transitional journey towards adult life, a time when protective health behaviours and the value of a healthy lifestyle can be adopted, or not, depending on complex interactions between determinants and individual factors. Integration of young people’s health in all policies and research agendas is crucial, beyond the health sector, and keeping in mind the needs to reduce health inequalities and to ensure equitable access to services, in a broad Public health perspective. However, Public health policies targeting young people cannot be fully relevant and efficient if they do not rely on quality data collected among young people, on their health and their health behaviours. Under the auspices of WHO, the Health behaviour in School-aged children (HBSC) survey collects data among 11-13 and 15 years-old students since 1982, in a growing number of mostly European countries, every 4 years, through anonymous self-completed questionnaires filled in in class, using shared validated instruments and methods. Our workshop aims at showing how data collected among adolescents, by improving our understanding of their health and health behaviours as well as their determinants and settings, can be used to inform and improve policies at national level. HBSC will be used as an exemple, because of its longevity, breadth, expertise, reputation and uniqueness in the field of adolescent health. Five contrasted experiences will be presented, illustrating the relevance of linking scientific evidence and policy relevance in a Public health perspective. They have been chosen to offer various perspectives in terms of countries (Ireland, Luxembourg, Israel, UK), topics (well-being, suicide, substance-use, school-health), and levels of links between research and policy. All presenters are skilled researchers, have a longstanding experience of conducting the HBSC survey and they share a strong interest in linking with policy makers in advocating the improvement of the health and well-being of the adolescents in their country. Because they all work on the same population (adolescents), and mainly work on the same survey (HBSC), the presentations and debates will start from a common ground, saving space and time to really illustrate how health behaviour data can inform Public health policies. The presenters should give contrasted perspectives, without denying their failures and difficulties, to engage with the audience for a wider discussion, towards a better partnership between research and policy. Key messages There are national examples that illustrate that research on adolescents’ health behaviour can inform Public health policy targeted at this specific population and improve its health and well-being. Networking and exchanging on failures and success through case studies can provide perspectives to other teams and countries on how to better build the link between researchers and policy makers.

scholarly journals Dengue 2009-2017: Políticas Públicas de Salud en la Provincia de Córdoba / Dengue 2009-2017: Public Policies in Health in the Province of Córdoba

2018 ◽  
pp. 25-37
Author(s):  
José Emilio Ortega ◽  
Santiago Martín Espósito
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
National Context ◽  
Careful Evaluation ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Right

El dengue es una enfermedad de interés en salud pública por su impacto en la morbilidad y mortalidad en el contexto mundial, regional y nacional. En 2009, la recolonización del Aedes aegypti, vector del dengue en la Argentina y en la Provincia de Córdoba generó una crisis sanitaria. Analizaremos el rol de Estado Provincial como responsable de políticas públicas sanitarias, abordando la implementación de éstas a partir de una evaluación razonable y cuidadosa de la realidad, teniendo en cuenta que el derecho a la salud, analizado en clave del Estado Social de Derecho, es un verdadero derecho fundamental. Dengue is a disease of interest in public health due to its impact on morbidity and mortality in the global, regional and national context. In 2009, the recolonization of Aedes aegypti, a vector of dengue in Argentina and in the Province of Córdoba, generated a health crisis. We will analyze the role of the Provincial State as responsible for public health policies, addressing the implementation of these policies based on a reasonable and careful evaluation of reality, taking into account that the right to health, analyzed in the Social State Law, is a true fundamental right.  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document