This article argues that, in tackling health inequalities, lessons can be learned from the community-oriented social work which has helped Cuba maintain population health comparable with much wealthier countries, in contrast to the UK where efforts to reduce the health gap between rich and poor have enjoyed limited success.
French
Cet article soutient que, lorsqu’on aborde les inégalités de santé, des leçons peuvent être tirées du travail social communautaire qui a aidé Cuba à maintenir la santé de sa population à un niveau comparable à celui de pays beaucoup plus riches, par contraste avec le Royaume-Uni où les efforts pour réduire le fossé dans l’accès aux soins entre les riches et les pauvres ont rencontré un succès limité.
Spanish
Se arguye que, en la lucha contra desigualdades en la salud, se puede aprender de la experiencia del trabajo social comunitario en Cuba. Este trabajo ayudó a que Cuba mantuviera un nivel de salud comparable a la de países mucho más ricos. Todo ello contrasta con el limitado éxito de los esfuerzos en el Reino Unido por reducir distancias en cuanto a salud entre ricos y pobres.
Acheson, D. (1998) `Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health' . London: Stationery Office. Available online at: http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/doh/ih/ih.htm (accessed 31 August 2008).
2.
Brewer, M., A. Muriel, D. Phillips and L. Sibieta (2008) Poverty and Inequality in the UK: 2008. London: Institute for Fiscal Studies.
3.
Bulmer, M. (1987) The Social Basis of Community Care. London: George Allen & Unwin.
4.
Castell-Florit Serrate, P., R.C. Lausanne, M.M. Jean-Claude, C.S. Espinoza and T.C. Gonzalez (2007) Study on Intersector Practices in Health in Cuba: Report to the Pan American Health Organisation: Stage One. Havana: Escuela Nacional de Salud Pública de la República de Cuba (ENCAMP). Available online at: http://www.who.int/social_determinants/country_action/intersectorial_action/en/index.html (accessed 13 September 2008).
5.
Cooper, R.S., J.F. Kennelly and P. Orduñez-Garcia (2006) `Health in Cuba', International Journal of Epidemiology35(8): 17-24.
6.
Department of Health, UK (2003) Tackling Health Inequalities: A Programme for Action. London: Department of Health.
7.
Department of Health, UK (2007) Tackling Health Inequalities: 2007 Status Report on the Programme for Action . London: Department of Health.
8.
Dominelli, L. (2008) Book review, International Social Work51(2): 168-71.
9.
Elliott, S.M. and L.D. Neirotti (2008) `Challenges of Tourism in a Dynamic Island Destination: The Case of Cuba', Tourism Geographies10(3): 375-402.
10.
Farmer, P. (2007) `Whither Equity in Health? The State of the Poor in Latin America'. Cad. Saúde Pública, 23 suppl.1, S7-S12. Available online at: http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?pid=S0102-311X2007001300002&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en (accessed 13 September 2008).
11.
Ferguson, I. and M. Lavalette , eds (2007) International Social Work and the Radical Tradition. Birmingham: Venture Press.
12.
Gott, R. (2004) Cuba: A New History. London : Yale University Press.
13.
Mansson, S.-A. and C. Proveyer Cervantes, eds (2005) Social Work in Cuba and Sweden: Achievements and Prospects. Goteborg and Havana: Goteborg University and the University of Havana.
14.
Marmot, M. (2001) `Inequalities in Health', New England Journal of Medicine345(2): 134-6.
15.
Marquez, A.R. and C.L. Pardo (2005) `A Monitoring System for Health Equity in Cuba' , MEDICC Review7(9): 12-20.
16.
Mawle, A. (2005) `Choosing Health - Losing Health?', UK Public Health Association (UKPHA) Response to the White Paper `Choosing Health - Making Healthy Choices Easier'. London: UKPHA.
17.
Mayo, M. (1994) `Community Work', in C. Hanvey and T. Philpot (eds) Practising Social Work, pp. 67-79. London: Routledge.
18.
Moliner, R.B., G.C. Marie and P.F. Cañizares (2002) `Living Conditions and Maternal and Child Health' , MEDICC Review4(2). Available online at: http://www.medicc.org/publications/medicc_review/IV/reproductive/pages/living.html (accessed 14 September 2008).
19.
Murphy, M., M. Bobak, A. Nicholson, R. Rose and M. Marmot (2006) `The Widening Gap in Mortality by Educational Level in the Russian Federation, 1980-2001', American Journal of Public Health96(7): 1293-9.
20.
Ocasio, J. (2008) `Social Work in Cuba', National Association of Puerto Rican/ Hispanic Social Workers. Available online at: www.naprhsw.com/news/other/social-work-in-cuba.php (accessed 22 May 2008).
21.
Payne, M. (1997) Modern Social Work Theory. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
22.
Reed, G.A. (2005) `Editorial: The Health Equity Puzzle: No Easy Pieces' , MEDICC Review7(9): 1.
23.
Ritchie, P. (1994) `Community Care - A Quick Look at Some of the Big Issues', in R. Davidson and S. Hunter (eds) Community Care in Practice , pp. 7-15. London: Batsford.
24.
Seebohm Committee (1968) Report of the Committee on Local Authority and Allied Social Services. London: HMSO.
25.
Spiegel, J.M., M.G.J. Gonzalez, G.J. Cabrera, S. Catasus, C. Vidal and A. Yassi (2007) `Promoting Health in Response to Global Tourism Expansion in Cuba', Health Promotion International23(1): 60-9.
26.
Spiegel, J.M. and A. Yassi (2004) `Lessons from the Margins of Globalization: Appreciating the Cuban Health Paradox', Journal of Public Health Policy25(1): 85-110.
27.
Strug, D. (2006) `Community-oriented Social Work in Cuba: Government Response to Emerging Social Problems', Social Work Education25(7): 749-62.
28.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ( 2007) Human Development Report 2007/2008. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
29.
Uriarte, M. (2002) `Cuba, Social Policy at the Crossroads: Maintaining Priorities, Transforming Practice'. Boston, MA: Oxfam America. Available on-line at: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/publications/research_reports/art3670.html (accessed 13 September 2008).
30.
Whitehead, M. and G. Dahlgren (2006) Levelling Up (Part 1): A Discussion Paper on Concepts and Principles for Tackling Social Inequities in Health. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.
31.
Wilkinson, R. (2005) The Impact of Inequality: How to Make Sick Societies Healthier. New York: The New Press .
32.
Wilkinson, R. and M. Marmot , eds (2003) Social Determinants of Health: The Solid Facts. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe.
33.
World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) (2008) Closing the Gap in a Generation: Health Equity Through Action on the Social Determinants of Health, Final Report: Executive Summary. Geneva: WHO.
