Implementation of the global strategy for health for all by the year 2000 : second evaluation : eighth report on the world health situation

Provides a global overview of changes in the world health situation as determined through an analysis of data submitted by 151 countries for 1985-1990. Focused on a number of well-defined indicators of health status and its socioeconomic and environmental determinants, the report aims to discern trends, measure progress, define problems, and thus guide countries in their continuing efforts to strengthen health systems and improve the accessibility and quality of care. Emphasis is placed on factors linked to progress in the achievement of coverage by primary health care, equity in health, and sustainability in the national approaches employed. The book has eight chapters. The first evaluates global political, economic, demographic and social trends and considers their health implications, including several consequences linked to the continuing global recession. The second chapter, devoted to health systems, evaluates the success of national efforts to achieve universal access to essential health care. Factors that have slowed progress are identified together with other factors consistently linked to the successful development of health systems. Subsequent chapters review progress in health care coverage and assess changes in financial resources, human resources, and health technology. Expanded immunization is identified as the greatest public health success story of the past decade. A chapter devoted to health status uses data on mortality, morbidity, and disability to discern trends, identify the leading causes of death and ill health, and profile the major determinants of health. Environmental policies, hazards and risks are covered in the next chapter, which concludes that national capabilities for controlling environmental pollution have improved very little since 1984. The remaining chapters analyse the main achievements in terms of health care coverage and changes in health status, discuss major trends in health, and consider how these trends may develop. The final chapter identifies issues that need to be addressed in order to accelerate progress towards health-for-all goals.