In this month’s Bulletin
Bulletin of the World Health Organization 2011;89:701-701. doi: 10.2471/BLT.11.001011
This month’s issue of the Bulletin has a special focus on the social determinants of health to coincide with the international conference on this topic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 19–21 October. Two editorials, a perspective, an interview and four news features are devoted to this subject. The editorials reflect the views of Michael Marmot (702), who chaired the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health in 2005, and of Rüdiger Krech (703), the director of the Department of Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights at WHO. Krech also joins his colleague Kumanan Rasanathan (775–776) in a perspective that calls for more action on social factors to combat noncommunicable diseases.
Africa
Hospital infections frequent
Sepideh Bagheri Nejad et al. (757–765) call for more research on health-care associated infections.
Australia
Looking at the big picture
Matthew Heath (712–713) reports on how the state of South Australia is bringing policy-makers together to improve health.
Brazil
Health at centre of agenda
In an interview, Brazilian Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha (714–715) tells how his government is acting to reduce social inequities.
Chile
A decade towards better health
Irene Helmke (710–711) reports on Chile’s initiatives to tackle social factors affecting health.
Greenland
Tuberculosis in the Arctic
Bolette Søborg et al. (741–748) conclude that family members are important sources of tuberculosis infection in children.
Kenya
Children at risk
Jennifer C Moïsi et al. (725–732) find that children are at increased risk of dying within 12 months of a stay in hospital.
India
Tackling social factors
Patralekha Chatterjee (708–709) reports on India’s efforts to address the social factors that affect health.
Fatal falls
Research by Jagnoor Jagnoor et al. (733–740) finds that falls are most frequent among children and old women.
Scotland
Behind the “Glasgow effect”
Michael Reid (706–707) reports on how Glasgow is tackling its stark inequities in health.
Global
Global trends in mesothelioma
Vanya Delgermaa et al. (716–724) take a close look at mesothelioma mortality figures from 1994–2008.
Japanese encephalitis
Grant L Campbell et al. (766–774) estimate the global incidence of Japanese encephalitis to guide prevention and control.
Blindness and cataract surgery
Shaheen P Shah et al. (749–756) find a strong link between poverty and the severity of visual loss.