Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Developing Countries

Book excerpt: This book brings together two important discussions in public health in developing countries: an understanding of the burden of disease, health equity and social determinants of health; and biomathematical models, epidemiological studies and estimation of the direct and indirect cost of disease. The empirical chapters in the first part discuss aspects of disease prevention and health promotion in developing countries, with a particular focus on countries that are part of the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean Region and the African Region. Health equity and social determinants of health constitute a cornerstone of this book, with the widespread recognition that addressing the social determinants of health is crucial not only for improving general health but importantly for reducing unfair and remediable health inequalities. Using mathematical models, epidemiological studies and statistical estimation of costs, the second part of this book shows the opportunities that exist for developing countries to prevent disease and promote health by adopting cost-effective strategies and cost–benefit analyses.