Category:Health

From Wikiprogress.org

Health

During the month of April 2013 Wikiprogress and networks will focus on 'Health', building upon 'World Health Day 2013' on 7 April 2013. Below are the health related articles on Wikiprogress and we invite you to read, edit and contribute to the following.

Being healthy is one of the most valued aspects of people’s lives, and one that affects the probability of having a job, earning an adequate income, and actively participating in a range of valued social activities. People’s health status is, however, difficult to measure, as it encompasses a variety of dimensions, such as the length of people’s lives, the presence and severity of chronic conditions, and the many aspects of physical morbidity and mental health. Inequalities in health status are also pervasive, with women and older people reporting lower satisfaction with their health status, and with large health disparities across income groups. Comparative information on people’s health status remains limited in important ways, and the same applies to our understanding of the interplay of the various factors that determine health outcomes.

Why does health status matter for well-being?

The length of life and whether it is lived free of illness and disability both have intrinsic value for people. In fact, health status is consistently ranked as one of the most valued aspects in people’s lives, together with having a job, in surveys conducted in OECD countries. Health status also has instrumental value because it enhances people’s opportunities to participate in education and training programmes and in the labour market as well as to have good social relationships. At the societal level, countries with better overall health outcomes also display higher average income and wealth, higher employment rates, higher rates of participation in political activities, higher social network support and higher overall life satisfaction.

(Extract from How’s life?' Measuring Well-being, 2011)