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Analysis of social disparities in health in the Maldives |
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Project ID: EQ-009 |
Status: Completed |
Following on from a mission to Maldives that discussed the implications of social determinants of health, the Ministry of Health and Family requested IHP to undertake this exploratory study of social disparities in health in the Maldives. As part of the study, IHP was given access to several national datasets, including the population census, data from the Vital Registration System, and the STEPS 2004 survey in Mal�. Using these data, IHP staff undertook several analyses of inequalities in health. These included an analysis of disparities in mortality, healthcare utilization, the impact of household out-of-pocket spending, NCD risk factors and morbidity, and access to medicines. The study revealed that the Maldives does comparatively well in terms of health systems equity, largely owing to its high level of public financing in health. At the same time, some significant inequities were noted, including disparities in access to medicines and pharmacies, a significant burden from having to pay for medicines in government hospitals, and the need to travel between islands to get needed care. In addition, a mixed picture for NCD risk factors and NCDs was noted, indicating that the Maldives is in transition from the patterns seen in developing countries to one seen in developed countries, where most NCDs are concentrated in the poor. The results of the study were shared with Maldivian counterparts at a national workshop in November 2009, held in Mal�. In the final phase of the project, IHP staff will train Maldivian government counterparts in the methods needed to replicate the analyses in future, and to examine disparities in health using other national data. |
Read in full
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IHP publications & reports |
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External publications |
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Presentations |
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Project
at a glance |
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Project
team |
Start Date: |
May 2009 |
End
Date: |
Nov 2009 |
Themes: |
Health equity, Health systems |
Sponsor(s): |
WHO-SEARO |
Client: |
MOH Maldives |
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IHP Staff: |
RP Rannan-Eliya, C Anurana, S Saleem, A Glynn-Robinson |
Consultant(s): |
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Location |
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Further
information |
Region: |
Asia |
Country(s): |
Maldives |
Partner(s): |
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