Obvious health inequities in children under-five years exist between regions, countries, and within countries. Reducing these health inequities requires attention to the unfair distribution of power, money, resources and... [ view full abstract ]
Obvious health inequities in children under-five years exist between regions, countries, and within countries. Reducing these health inequities requires attention to the unfair distribution of power, money, resources and living conditions. The objective of this study was to explore environmental, sociocultural, economic, food insecurity, early childhood development, health care services and political determinants of child health and health inequities across poor-urban and poor-rural settings. A qualitative study was conducted based on 24 key informant interviews and 12 focus group discussions equally in poor-urban and poor-rural settings. The study finding indicated health inequities were existed in children under-five years in the study area. The most commonly cited determinants were poverty, food insecurity, lack of health services and sociocultural practices in both poor-urban and poor-rural areas, while environmental pollution and poor sanitation conditions in poor-urban areas. Our results also indicated that in study areas (urban and rural), children from the poorest households were in higher risk to be ill due to identified social determinants and inequities, than their counterparts in the most privileged areas. This study supports framework of Commission on Social Determinants of Health to explore environmental, sociocultural, economic, food insecurity, early childhood development, health care services and political determinants of child health. Addressing these social determinants is critical through proactive, collaborative, inclusive, and deliberative approaches to reduce health inequities in children under-five years across urban and rural populations.
Key Words: Social, Determinants, Child, Health, Equity, Inequities, Urban, Rural
*Corresponding/Presenting author: Gul Nawaz Khan, Aga Khan University, Pakistan. Email: gul.nawaz@aku.edu
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