Diseases of the rich? The social patterning of hypertension in six low- and middle-income countries

Lloyd-Sherlock, Peter, Minicuci, Nadia, Corso, Barbara, Beard, John, Chatterji, Somnath and Ebrahim, Shah (2017) Diseases of the rich? The social patterning of hypertension in six low- and middle-income countries. European Journal of Development Research, 29 (4). 827–842. ISSN 0957-8811

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Abstract

This paper identifies a general perception among development policymakers that health conditions such as hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) disproportionately affect privileged socioeconomic groups. The paper argues that this framing of the issue is derived more from established discourses and institutional dynamics than from evidence. The paper then assesses the validity of this view, with reference to the social patterning of hypertension in China, Ghana, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation and South Africa. Using data for adults aged 50+ from the WHO Survey of Ageing and Adult Health, it finds the social patterning of hypertension prevalence varies markedly between the study countries, but that hypertension awareness and control rates are generally lower for less-advantaged groups. This reveals a need to challenge misleading representations of NCD pandemics and for interventions that specifically target the poor.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: health,hypertension,equity,older people,policy,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of International Development
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Health and Disease
Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Life Course, Migration and Wellbeing
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2016 00:31
Last Modified: 22 Oct 2022 01:27
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/60078
DOI: 10.1057/s41287-016-0063-2

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