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ABSTRACT
Global disparities in health form a complex issue adversely affecting much of the world's population. What has been found is that national income and other general socio-economic factors are strong determinants of population health (Houweling, 2005 & Schell, 2007). In countries where resources are less, people are much less healthy than people living in rich countries. In wealthier countries that have made immense progress in health indicators, the resulting change in age structure and morbidity and mortality patterns portends even greater financial demands on the health sector.
This study noted the trends in several health indicators versus economic indicators and related it to low income, lower middle income, upper middle income and high income countries.
We noted that there is improvement in all health indicators along with an increasing GNI per Capita and GDP. In low income regions though, the rate of improvement is slower as opposed to high income countries. However, there is progress, which is leading to an increase in aging population.
Key words:
GNI par capita and health indicators, Low income versus high income demographic transition, Trend in health indicators.
Global disparities in health form a complex issue adversely affecting much of the world's population. What has been found is that national income and other general socio-economic factors are strong determinants of population health (Houweling, 2005 & Schell, 2007). In countries where resources are less, people are much less healthy than people living in rich countries. This analysis contributes to the growing body of literature on health and economic growth, and inequality in healthy. This is vital for designing policies aimed at improving health in developing countries and also to provide an explanation of why some countries are rich and some poor. There have been serious efforts to improve the level of health in developing countries by international organizations and Governments (WHO world health report 2003, & WHO health report 2004 & Sachs 2002) .
Improving the health and long life of the underprivileged is a fundamental goal of economic development. However, it is also a way to achieving the additional development goals concerning poverty alleviation. The linkages of health to poverty reduction and to long- term economic growth are powerful than is generally comprehended (Leon & Walt, 2001 &...