Why we overlook the global progress in child health equality
In short: We often focus on the systemic failures of the elite, yet we overlook the tangible progress being made. From local street designs to global mortality shifts, significant strides are being taken to level the playing field for children. Understanding these mechanisms is key to sustaining momentum.
Professor Danny Dorling argues that our collective focus on what is going wrong often obscures the 'good news' of progress. He highlights a 5% global fall in infant mortality last year as a significant achievement in reducing health inequalities. On a local level, simple urban interventions, such as introducing 20mph speed limits on residential streets in wealthy nations, serve as practical examples of creating higher-quality environments that improve wellbeing for everyone.
To move from observation to action, healthcare systems are identifying specific structural barriers. A November 2023 report by NHS Providers emphasizes that children living in poverty face significantly higher risks of poor health outcomes and unequal access to services. To combat this, the report suggests embedding the Core20PLUS5 framework and requiring trusts to review existing initiatives specifically through the lens of deprivation. A critical component of this strategy is 'meaningful involvement,' ensuring that children and young people from deprived backgrounds are included in the design and delivery of the services meant to help them.
Research led by Professor David Taylor-Robinson and others between 2018 and 2022 focuses on 'systems-based approaches' to improve early years outcomes. This involves assessing how various inputs and outputs at a local level contribute to health inequalities. The goal is to identify cost-effective, equitable policies that work within current resources. By addressing the social determinants of health—including the digital environment and school-based systems—policymakers aim to create a protective system that prioritizes the voices of children while tackling the root causes of inequality.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Reducing Inequalities in Child Health: What can we do that's positive? - Professor Danny Dorling
- Also: New report from NHS Providers: Reducing health inequalities faced by children and young people
- Also: How can we design better systems to improve child health and reduce inequalities at a local level? - NIHR School for Public Health Research
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