Download - HBSC Survey: Significance of findings to WHO
HBSC – significance of findings to WHO
Launch of the international HBSC report
2 May 2012, Edinburgh
Vivian Barnekow
Programme Manager
Child and Adolescent Health
WHO, Regional office for Europe
Vision of Health 2020
“… a WHO European Region where all people
are enabled and supported in achieving their
full health potential and well-being and in
which countries, individually and jointly, work
towards reducing inequalities in health within
the Region and beyond.”
Health 2020
• Health and health equity are important to the development of a country.
• Addressing the social determinants of health and the reduction of related health inequities are centre stage in Health 2020.
• Health is a fundamental human right and an essential resource for sustainable economic, social and human development.
• Addressing the social determinants of health and tackling health inequities requires a systematic, whole-of-government approach.
WHO European review on social determinants and the health divide
• Provide evidence on the nature and magnitude of health
inequities across the Region and their relationship to social
determinants
• Investigate gaps in capacity and knowledge to improve health
through action on social determinants
• Synthesize evidence on the most promising policy options and
interventions for addressing social determinants and reducing
health inequities in diverse country contexts
Health 2020 - task group on early years, education and family
Case studies from WHO/HBSC forum sessions addressing:
• socioeconomic determinants of healthy eating and physical activity
• social cohesion for mental well-being
• socio-environmentally determined health inequities
Case studies from Schools for Health in Europe network
Europe: a global leader in NCD’s
Problem Ranking among WHO regions
Child and adolescent health strategy – the goal
To enable children and adolescents in Europe to reach their full potential for health and development and to reduce the burden of avoidable disease and mortality
Four guiding principles
• Life-course approach – from prenatal life to adolescence
• Equity – account explicitly for needs of the most disadvantaged
• Intersectoral action
• Participation of public and young people
WHO tools for adolescentsAll topics in the series
Young people’s health as a whole-of-society response. Evidence for gender responsive actions:
• Mental health• Overweight and obesity• Violence• Injuries and substance
abuse• Well-being
• Chronic conditions• Adolescent pregnancy• HIV/AIDS and STIs
GENDER ISSUES
WHO information on health and well-being of children and adolescents
WHO has
Mortality data (partly)
Morbidity data (partly)
Health behaviours data (adults only)
Overweight and obesity (some Countries)
Misc reports on injuries, violence, mental health…
WHO needs
Adolescent health data
• Age disaggregated
• Sex disaggregated
• Health behaviours
• Social determinants
• Well-being
HBSC key findings: country comparisons
Are some countries doing better at that others in nurturing health of young people?
•Caution: Rankings of countries sometimes are based on very small percentage differences
•Also we see now that it is not only average ranking but extent of inequalities that is important
•Countries can do well in one area but not so well in another
•To comprehensively compare, countries would need to do a complex analysis of
prevalences, rankings, absolute and relative improvements over time, extent of inequalities
and how these are improving or not
•Countries who participate in regular HBSC surveys can make this assessment which will give
policy makers a clear steer on issues they should be tackling in their country
Emerging issues
Social determinants of adolescent health and well-being:
•‘Healthy and connected’: social and material assets influence health
•‘Gender differences and gender equalization’: gendered patterns of health, wellbeing and risk
•‘Ages and stages’: critical changes in health and social conditions among girls and boys
Efforts need to be made to focus on the social determinants influencing health of young people. Girls’ health and behavior appears to be more susceptible to changes with age and effects of affluence. We need to use this knowledge in designing programs and policies for girls’ health improvement
Final word - repeated
HBSC provides a rich source of data that can be translated into useful intelligence:
• to inform and guide policy and practice
• to improve the health of all young people
• to limit the impact of social inequalities
• and invest sufficiently to build on early years
Thank you!Thank you!