The empirical basis of health and poverty in the Caribbean

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between poverty and health in a number of countries in the English-speaking Caribbean. Its findings are designed to assist in the regional health sector reform initiative.

Since the 1970s, there has been fundamental changes in the regions economy and society which have affected the role of the state and patterns of distribution of the social product. The health sector, and the issue of poverty are two areas affected by the changing nature of the respective economies. In this regard, gains in the control of environmental health have suffered reversal. The state in many countries seem unable to cope, the net result of which is increasing deprivation among the poorer sectors of the populations.