Health & society
Health is not just a matter for the medical profession. Social factors, especially poverty and other forms of deprivation, have a powerful impact on health. In countries where many people are too poor to seek medical help, the economic impacts of ill health must be weighed against investment in health services. Technology can have a powerful impact on how effectively health workers can care for their patients. Oxford researchers across the sciences and social sciences are working to explore the interactions between health and society in the developing world, and to deliver recommendations for action.
 Undersized in the Andes: health impacts of povertyThe Young Lives project, led from Oxford University, is looking at the many effects of poverty on the growth and development of children in Peru and other countries. |
 Fair care for all: reforming healthcare in ChinaRapid changes to healthcare systems in China have improved access. Now an Oxford study will see if adjusting doctors’ incentives can lead to more effective care. |
 A call from the heart: mobile-phone based health surveillanceA $5-10 device for measuring blood pressure that plugs into a mobile phone is being tested in rural India to see if it helps people receive the treatment they need. |
 How to spend aid wisely: the politics of global healthDr Devi Sridhar of Oxford University battles to make the grand schemes of international donors match local health priorities in low-income countries. |
 My mum has AIDS: AIDS-affected children in South AfricaDr Lucie Cluver’s decade-long work highlighting the plight of children who have lost parents to AIDS is beginning to inform policy and increase the support they receive. |
 A two-way street: engaging communities with researchCarrying out health research in communities in Kenya requires a two-way dialogue to build trust, act on concerns and feed back findings. |