WHO urges global action on social factors behind poor health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that many of the root causes of poor health originate outside the traditional health sector, pointing to social issues like inadequate housing, limited education, and lack of job opportunities as key threats to people’s well-being across the globe.

In its latest World Report on Social Determinants of Health Equity, WHO reveals that these social conditions can drastically reduce a person’s healthy lifespan, sometimes by decades, regardless of their country’s economic status. One stark example from the report shows a 33-year life expectancy gap between people living in the countries with the lowest and highest averages.

Experts stress that these social determinants often outweigh genetics or access to medical care in determining overall health outcomes.

“Our world is unequal. Where a person is born and how they live affect their health. But we can make things better,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He added that the report offers hope by outlining practical strategies countries can adopt to create fairer and healthier societies.

The findings highlight how deeply health disparities are tied to systemic poverty, educational barriers, and social discrimination. The report notes that individuals in economically disadvantaged communities typically experience poorer health and shorter lives, with even worse outcomes among groups subjected to racism or social exclusion.

This marks the first comprehensive report on health equity from the WHO since 2008, when it set global goals for reducing health disparities by 2040. However, the new data suggests that many of those targets are unlikely to be reached.

Despite some progress, such as a 40% global drop in maternal deaths between 2000 and 2023, major inequalities persist. Alarmingly, 94% of maternal deaths still occur in low-income nations. Even in high-income countries, marginalized women, including racial minorities and Indigenous populations, face significantly higher risks. In some regions, Indigenous women are up to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications.

Meanwhile, children from impoverished nations are 13 times more likely to die before the age of five than their counterparts in wealthier areas. Experts estimate that addressing health inequities could prevent up to 1.8 million child deaths annually in lower- and middle-income countries.The WHO calls for urgent cross-sector action, noting that health cannot be improved by healthcare alone. Education, employment, housing, and anti-discrimination efforts must also be prioritized to achieve lasting and equitable health outcomes worldwide. TRACY CABRERA