The study of the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that they can be responsible for a Spectacular reduction in life expectancy in rich and poor countries.
For example, People living in the country with the highest life expectancy will live on average 33 years more than those born in the country with the lowest life expectancy.
An unequal world
“Our world is uneven. Where we were born, grow, live, work and age considerably influence our health and well-being, “said Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Health inequalities are closely linked to the degrees of social disadvantage and the levels of discrimination.
“”Health follows a social gradient by which the area in which people live more disadvantaged, the more their income is lowWho said.
Inequalities are particularly exacerbated in populations faced with discrimination and marginalization, such as indigenous peoples, who have lower expectations of life than their non -Aboriginal counterparts.
This is the case in high -income and low -income countries.
Key targets at risk
The study is the first to be published since 2008, when the WHO Social Health Determinants of Health Declines published its final reporting objectives for 2040 to reduce gaps between and within countries in life expectancy, childhood and maternal mortality.
It shows that these objectives are likely to be missed, and despite a rarity of data, there is sufficient evidence to show that health inequalities have often expanded.
For example, children born in poor countries are 13 times more likely to die before their fifth anniversary than in richer countries.
In addition, modeling shows that the life of nearly two million children per year could be saved by filling the gap and improving equity between the poorest and richest populations of the population in low and average income countries.
In addition, although maternal mortality has decreased by 40% between the 2000s and 2023, the majority of deaths, 94%, still occur in low and lower income countries.
Appeal to action
Who calls for collective action to deal with economic inequalities and invest in social infrastructure and universal public services.
The agency also recommends other stages, in particular on the survival of structural discrimination and the determinants and impacts of conflicts, emergencies and forced migration.
