Reducing inequities in health across the life-course: early years, childhood and adolescence

Overview

Socioeconomic inequities in child health are seen across the WHO European Region for almost all aspects of physical and mental health. They emerge from birth and persist across childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. This report lays out the key arguments for promoting equity in the early years, childhood and adolescence. It then goes on to outline evidence and policy options to address inequities in child health, along with limitations of this evidence and suggestions for future directions. Member State commitments, giving policy-makers the mandate to take action, and the key stakeholders and partners needed to reduce health inequities are presented. The report ends with a list of indicators to monitor progress in the factors most likely to bring about change.