Soraya P A Verstraeten1, Hans A M van Oers1, Johan P Mackenbach1. 1. Soraya P. A. Verstraeten is with the Institute for Public Health (Volksgezondheid Instituut Curaçao), Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature, Willemstad, Curaçao. Hans A. M. van Oers is with the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands, and with the Scientific Centre for Transformation in Care and Welfare (Tranzo), University of Tilburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands. Johan P. Mackenbach is with the Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether Caribbean states vary in health policy performance in 11 different areas; to explore the association with sociodemographic, economical, and governance determinants; and to estimate the potential health gains of "best-practice" health policies. METHODS: We selected 50 indicators that included data on mortality (latest available, 2010-2015), intermediate outcomes, and policy implementation to calculate a state's health policy performance score. We related this score to country characteristics and calculated the potential number of avoidable deaths if the age-specific mortality rates of best-performer Martinique applied in all states. RESULTS: We found large differences in health policy performance among Caribbean states. Martinique, Cuba, and Guadeloupe had the highest performance scores, and Guyana, Belize, and Suriname the lowest. Political affiliation, religious fractionalization, corruption, national income, and population density were associated with health policy performance. If the mortality rates of Martinique applied to all Caribbean states, an overall mortality reduction of 12% would be achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in health outcomes between Caribbean states are partly attributable to variations in health policy implementation. Our results suggest that many deaths can be prevented if Caribbean governments adopt best-practice policies.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether Caribbean states vary in health policy performance in 11 different areas; to explore the association with sociodemographic, economical, and governance determinants; and to estimate the potential health gains of "best-practice" health policies. METHODS: We selected 50 indicators that included data on mortality (latest available, 2010-2015), intermediate outcomes, and policy implementation to calculate a state's health policy performance score. We related this score to country characteristics and calculated the potential number of avoidable deaths if the age-specific mortality rates of best-performer Martinique applied in all states. RESULTS: We found large differences in health policy performance among Caribbean states. Martinique, Cuba, and Guadeloupe had the highest performance scores, and Guyana, Belize, and Suriname the lowest. Political affiliation, religious fractionalization, corruption, national income, and population density were associated with health policy performance. If the mortality rates of Martinique applied to all Caribbean states, an overall mortality reduction of 12% would be achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in health outcomes between Caribbean states are partly attributable to variations in health policy implementation. Our results suggest that many deaths can be prevented if Caribbean governments adopt best-practice policies.
Authors: Robert W Blum; Linda Halcón; Trish Beuhring; Ernest Pate; Sheila Campell-Forrester; Anneke Venema Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Béatrice Lauby-Secretan; Chiara Scoccianti; Dana Loomis; Lamia Benbrahim-Tallaa; Véronique Bouvard; Franca Bianchini; Kurt Straif Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2015-06-03 Impact factor: 91.245