HBSC – significance of findings to WHO

Launch of the international HBSC report

2 May 2012, Edinburgh

Vivian Barnekow

Programme Manager

Child and Adolescent Health

WHO, Regional office for Europe

Vision of Health 2020

“… a WHO European Region where all people

are enabled and supported in achieving their

full health potential and well-being and in

which countries, individually and jointly, work

towards reducing inequalities in health within

the Region and beyond.”

Health 2020

• Health and health equity are important to the development of a country.

• Addressing the social determinants of health and the reduction of related health inequities are centre stage in Health 2020.

• Health is a fundamental human right and an essential resource for sustainable economic, social and human development.

• Addressing the social determinants of health and tackling health inequities requires a systematic, whole-of-government approach.

WHO European review on social determinants and the health divide

• Provide evidence on the nature and magnitude of health

inequities across the Region and their relationship to social

determinants

• Investigate gaps in capacity and knowledge to improve health

through action on social determinants

• Synthesize evidence on the most promising policy options and

interventions for addressing social determinants and reducing

health inequities in diverse country contexts

Health 2020 - task group on early years, education and family

Case studies from WHO/HBSC forum sessions addressing:

• socioeconomic determinants of healthy eating and physical activity

• social cohesion for mental well-being

• socio-environmentally determined health inequities

Case studies from Schools for Health in Europe network

Europe: a global leader in NCD’s

Problem Ranking among WHO regions

Child and adolescent health strategy – the goal

To enable children and adolescents in Europe to reach their full potential for health and development and to reduce the burden of avoidable disease and mortality

Four guiding principles

• Life-course approach – from prenatal life to adolescence

• Equity – account explicitly for needs of the most disadvantaged

• Intersectoral action

• Participation of public and young people

WHO tools for adolescentsAll topics in the series

Young people’s health as a whole-of-society response. Evidence for gender responsive actions:

• Mental health• Overweight and obesity• Violence• Injuries and substance

abuse• Well-being

• Chronic conditions• Adolescent pregnancy• HIV/AIDS and STIs

GENDER ISSUES

WHO information on health and well-being of children and adolescents

WHO has

Mortality data (partly)

Morbidity data (partly)

Health behaviours data (adults only)

Overweight and obesity (some Countries)

Misc reports on injuries, violence, mental health…

WHO needs

Adolescent health data

• Age disaggregated

• Sex disaggregated

• Health behaviours

• Social determinants

• Well-being

HBSC key findings: country comparisons

Are some countries doing better at that others in nurturing health of young people?

•Caution: Rankings of countries sometimes are based on very small percentage differences

•Also we see now that it is not only average ranking but extent of inequalities that is important

•Countries can do well in one area but not so well in another

•To comprehensively compare, countries would need to do a complex analysis of

prevalences, rankings, absolute and relative improvements over time, extent of inequalities

and how these are improving or not

•Countries who participate in regular HBSC surveys can make this assessment which will give

policy makers a clear steer on issues they should be tackling in their country

Emerging issues

Social determinants of adolescent health and well-being:

•‘Healthy and connected’: social and material assets influence health

•‘Gender differences and gender equalization’: gendered patterns of health, wellbeing and risk

•‘Ages and stages’: critical changes in health and social conditions among girls and boys

Efforts need to be made to focus on the social determinants influencing health of young people. Girls’ health and behavior appears to be more susceptible to changes with age and effects of affluence. We need to use this knowledge in designing programs and policies for girls’ health improvement

Final word - repeated

HBSC provides a rich source of data that can be translated into useful intelligence:

• to inform and guide policy and practice

• to improve the health of all young people

• to limit the impact of social inequalities

• and invest sufficiently to build on early years

Thank you!Thank you!