Higher-income countries and global child health

Abstract

Social and economic factors, acting via communities and households, impact child health. These are the social determinants of health. An array of international forces can affect the availability of these health determinants; this is especially important in lower-income countries. Government revenue is critical to funding the public services which provide child health determinants, such as water, sanitation, healthcare, and education. Global actors play a significant role in the availability of resources to provide these services and, thus, global child health. Important global actors: upper-middle and high-income countries, multinational corporations, and international organisations (such as the International Monetary Fund and other banks), impact policies and the availability of government revenue within lower-income countries. This short review considers the potential impacts of these actors. Understanding these dynamics is essential for advocacy, and paediatricians and healthcare professionals have a critical role. Child health advocates could critically analyse the impact of global actors and use these to advocate for children's right to health.