Bulletin of the World Health Organization
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Bull. World Health Organ. · Jun 2014
Comparative StudySocioeconomic inequalities and mortality trends in BRICS, 1990-2010.
To explore the presence and magnitude of--and change in--socioeconomic and health inequalities between and within Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa--the countries known as BRICS--between 1990 and 2010. ⋯ Despite the economic prosperity and general improvements in health seen since 1990, profound inequalities in health persist both within and between BRICS. However, the substantial reductions observed--within Brazil and China--in the inequalities in income-related levels of infant mortality are encouraging.
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Bull. World Health Organ. · Jun 2014
Relative health performance in BRICS over the past 20 years: the winners and losers.
To determine whether the health performance of Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa--the countries known as BRICS--has kept in step with their economic development. ⋯ When evaluating a country's health performance in terms of avoidable mortality, it is useful to compare that performance against the performance of other countries. Such comparison allows any country-specific improvements to be distinguished from general global improvements.
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Bull. World Health Organ. · Jun 2014
Time series analysis of the impact of tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence among Australian adults, 2001-2011.
To determine the impact of tobacco control policies and mass media campaigns on smoking prevalence in Australian adults. ⋯ Increased tobacco taxation, more comprehensive smoke-free laws and increased investment in mass media campaigns played a substantial role in reducing smoking prevalence among Australian adults between 2001 and 2011.
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Bull. World Health Organ. · Jun 2014
Progress towards universal health coverage in BRICS: translating economic growth into better health.
Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China and South Africa--the countries known as BRICS--represent some of the world's fastest growing large economies and nearly 40% of the world's population. Over the last two decades, BRICS have undertaken health-system reforms to make progress towards universal health coverage. This paper discusses three key aspects of these reforms: the role of government in financing health; the underlying motivation behind the reforms; and the value of the lessons learnt for non-BRICS countries. ⋯ Negotiations between national and subnational entities have often been challenging but Brazil has been able to achieve good coordination between federal and state entities via a constitutional delineation of responsibility. In the Russian Federation, poor coordination has led to the fragmented pooling and inefficient use of resources. In mixed health systems it is essential to harness both public and private sector resources.