Inequity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and the Colonial History of Public Health

Abstract

The political power and influence of the medical model and issues of ethnicity and socio-economic status continue to influence current attitudes to and practices in public health programmes and contribute to continuing health inequalities and inequities in low- and middle-income countries. Poverty is a major public health issue in many low- and middle-income countries and the inequalities and inequities that exacerbate it. The gap between the rich and the poor still gets wider and wider all the time and deepens the inequalities. Unlike the rich, those who live in poverty continue to bear the brunt of poor health and discrimination. A potential solution to address poverty is to have the highest calibre of political leadership that will show commitment and vision to meaningfully and sustainably address the issue of poverty. This chapter gives a critical overview on the following topics: Historical influence on current policies and practices in public health; Poverty as a public health issue; Impact of inequalities and inequities in public health.