Closing the gap in a generation Health equity through action on the social determinants of health

Publishers World Health Organization Zones International Type Report / Study / Data Date of publication 2008 Document main thematic Child Protection/ Related Topic Total pages 40

This report shows that social injustice is killing people on a grand scale.Our children have dramatically different life chances depending on where they were born. In Japan or Sweden they can expect to live more than 80 years; in Brazil, 72 years; India, 63 years; and in one of several African countries, fewer than 50 years. And within countries, the differences in life chances are dramatic and are seen worldwide. The poorest of the poor have high levels of illness and premature mortality. But poor health is not confined to those worst off. In countries at all levels of income, health and illness follow a social gradient: the lower the socioeconomic position, the worse the health.