Human Development & Sustainable Development Goals

Health Indicator

A characteristic of an individual, population, or environment which is subject to measurement (directly or indirectly) and can be used to describe one or more aspects of the health of an individual or population (quality, quantity and time). (World Health Organization 2020)

Gender Inequality Index

A composite measure reflecting inequality in achievement between women and men in three dimensions: reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market. See Technical note 4 at http://hdr.undp.org/en for details on how the Gender Inequality Index is calculated. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Healthy Cities

A healthy city is one that is continually creating and improving those physical and social environments and expanding those community resources which enable people to mutually support each other in performing all the functions of life and in developing to their maximum potential. (World Health Organization 2020)

Disaster Severity Scale

A scale that classifies disasters by the following parameters: the radius of the disaster site, the number of dead, the number of wounded, the average severity of the injuries sustained, the impact time, and the rescue time. By attributing a numeric score to each of the variables from 0 to 2, with 0 being the least severe and 2 being the most severe, a scale with a range of 0 to 18 can be created. (Turnock 2012)

Stakeholder

A stakeholder is a person, or group of persons, who have an interest or concern in a particular process or issue due to direct or indirect involvement. Examples include government ministries, politicians, nongovernment organizations, religious organizations, research institutes, labour unions, professional associations and businesses. (World Health Organization 2020)

Disaster

Any event, typically occurring suddenly, that causes damage, ecological disruption, loss of human life, or deterioration of health and health services and that exceeds the capacity of the affected community on a scale sufficient to require outside assistance. (Turnock 2012)

Health Outcomes

A change in the health status of an individual, group or population which is attributable to a planned intervention or series of interventions, regardless of whether such an intervention was intended to change health status. (World Health Organization 2020)

Strategy

Broad lines of action to be taken to achieve goals and objectives, incorporating the identification of suitable points of intervention ways of ensuring the involvement of other sectors the range of political, social, economic, managerial and technical factors as well as constraints and ways of dealing with them. (World Health Organization 2020)

Child Poverty

A state in which children lack the material resources needed to develop and thrive, enjoy their rights, achieve their full potential and participate as full and equal members of society, typically measured as the proportion of children living in households below a certain threshold income level. This threshold can be defined in absolute terms (e.g. the World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than US$ 1.90 per day) or in relative terms (e.g. households living on less than 60% of the median income for the country as whole). (World Health Organization 2020)

Whole-of-Government

A whole-of-government approach refers to the coordinated efforts of two or more sectors within government to improve health outcomes. This can include working across different levels of government such as district, provincial and national jurisdictions. Joined-up government and healthy public policies are similar terms used in the HiAP literature. (World Health Organization 2020)

Whole-of-Society

A whole-of-society approach refers to coordinated efforts to improve health by multiple stakeholders within and outside government that may also be from several sectors. (World Health Organization 2020)

Gross National Income (GNI) Per Capita

Aggregate income of an economy generated by its production and its ownership of factors of production, less the incomes paid for the use of factors of production owned by the rest of the world, converted to international dollars using PPP rates, divided by midyear population. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Risk Factor

An attribute or exposure which is causally associated with an increased probability of a disease or injury. (World Health Organization 2020)

Health Promotion

An intervention strategy that seeks to eliminate or reduce exposures to harmful factors by modifying human behaviors. Any combination of health education and related organizational, political, and economic interventions designed to facilitate behavioral and environmental adaptations that will improve or protect health. The process enables individuals and communities to control and improve their own health. Health promotion approaches provide opportunities for people to identify problems, develop solutions, and work in partnerships that build on existing skills and strengths. (Turnock 2012)

Gender Development Index Groups

Countries are divided into five groups by absolute deviation from gender parity in HDI values. Group 1 comprises countries with high equality in HDI achievements between women and men (absolute deviation of less than 2.5 percent) group 2 comprises countries with medium to high equality in HDI achievements between women and men (absolute deviation of 2.5-5 percent) group 3 comprises countries with medium equality in HDI achievements between women and men (absolute deviation of 5-7.5 percent) group 4 comprises countries with medium to low equality in HDI achievements between women and men (absolute deviation of 7.5-10 percent) and group 5 comprises countries with low equality in HDI achievements between women and men (absolute deviation from gender parity of more than 10 percent). (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Health Disparity

Difference in health status between two groups, such as the health disparity in mortality between men and women, or the health disparity in infant mortality between African American and white infants. (Turnock 2012)

GDP Per Capita

GDP in a particular period divided by the total population for the same period. Gross domestic product (GDP): Sum of gross value added by all resident producers in the economy plus any product taxes and minus any subsidies not included in the value of the products, expressed in 2011 international dollars using purchasing power parity (PPP) rates. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI)

HDI value adjusted for inequalities in the three basic dimensions of human development. See Technical note 2 at http://hdr.undp.org/en for details on how the IHDI is calculated. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Health in All Policies (HiAP)

Health in All Policies (HiAP) is an approach to public policies across sectors that systematically takes into account the health implications of decisions, seeks synergies and avoids harmful health impacts in order to improve population health and health equity. It improves accountability of policy-makers for health impacts at all levels of policy-making. It includes an emphasis on the consequences of public policies on health systems, determinants of health and well-being. (World Health Organization 2020)

Universality

Human rights belong to all people, and all people have equal status with respect to these rights. Failure to respect an individual's human right has the same weight as failure to respect the right of any other —it is not better or worse depending on the person's gender, race, ethnicity, nationality or any other distinction. (Child Rights International Network 2020)

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In 2000, eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed upon by all United Nations member countries. The MDGs provide a framework for improving health, education, gender equity, economic, and environmental conditions in developing countries. Specific and measurable targets were set for low and middle income, developing countries with a goal to achieve them by 2015. (Kaiser Family Foundation 2015) Monitoring and Evaluation Monitoring can be defined as the systematic collection of data about an indicator or variable of interest. Evaluation, in contrast, involves a judgement about the value of or change in that variable. (World Health Organization 2020)

Intersectoral Action

Intersectoral action refers to the coordinated efforts of two or more sectors within government to improve health outcomes. This can include working across different levels of government such as district, provincial and national jurisdictions. The term intergovernment is sometimes used to refer to these horizontal and vertical linkages between levels of government within a country. Whole-of-government, joined-up government and healthy public policies are similar terms used in the HiAP literature. (World Health Organization 2020)

Downstream Interventions

Interventions and strategies focused on improving equitable access to care and services to mitigate the negative impacts of disadvantage on health. (National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health 2020)

Upstream Interventions

Interventions or strategies focused on improving fundamental social and economic structures in order to decrease barriers and improve supports that allow people to achieve their full health potential. (National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health 2020)

Sustainable Development

Often described as development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development involves balancing human development with natural resources and the limits of the earth and environment and encompasses intergenerational responsibility. It is commonly acknowledged to consider economic, environmental and social issues as its three 'dimensions'. (United Nations 2020)

Poverty

When a person or group of people lack human needs because they cannot afford them. Human needs include clean water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing, and shelter. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2020)

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Each goal has targets and indicators against which progress is measured. Over the next fifteen years, with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind. The SDGs build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to go further to end all forms of poverty. The new Goals are unique in that they call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-inhand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection. (United Nations 2020)

Population Below National Poverty Line

Percentage of the population living below the national poverty line, which is the poverty line deemed appropriate for a country by its authorities. National estimates are based on population weighted subgroup estimates from household surveys. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Multidimensional Poverty Index

Percentage of the population that is multidimensionally poor adjusted by the intensity of the deprivations. See Technical note 5 at http://hdr.undp.org/en for details on how the Multidimensional Poverty Index is calculated. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Multidimensional Poverty Headcount

Percentage of the population with a weighted deprivation score of at least 33 percent. It is also expressed in thousands of the population in the survey year. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Vulnerable Populations

Populations that are at increased risk of exposure to diseases due to socioeconomic, cultural or behavioral factors. Vulnerable populations include racial and ethnic minorities, refugees, poor people, men who have sex with men, injection drug users, sex workers, and women where gender inequality is pronounced. (Kaiser Family Foundation 2015)

Social Cash Transfers

Predictable direct transfers of money to individuals or households to ensure their basic income security and relieve them of the financial burden of several risks and needs, including those related to disability, sickness/health care, old age, bereavement, caring responsibilities, unemployment and housing. (World Health Organization 2020)

Window of Opportunity

Windows of opportunity are short periods of time in which, simultaneously, a problem is recognized, a solution is available, and the political climate is positive for policy change. (World Health Organization 2020)

Primary Health Care, Primary Medical Care

Primary health care is essential health care made accessible at a cost a country and community can afford, with methods that are practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable. Reference: Alma-Ata Declaration. Geneva, WHO, 1978. (World Health Organization 2020) Clinical preventative services, first-contact treatment services, and ongoing care for commonly encountered medical conditions. Basic or general health care focuses on the point at which a patient ideally seeks assistance from the medical care system. Primary care is considered comprehensive when the primary provider takes responsibility for the overall coordination of the care of the patient's health problems, whether these are medical, behavioral, or social. The appropriate use of consultants and community resources is an important part of effective primary health care. Such care is generally provided by physicians but can also be provided by other personnel, such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants. (Turnock 2012)

Public Health

Public health refers to all organized efforts of society to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole. Its activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and focus on entire populations, not on individual patients or diseases. (World Health Organization 2020) An organized effort by society, primarily through its public institutions, to improve, promote, protect and restore the health of the population through collective action. It includes services such as health situation analysis, health surveillance, health promotion, prevention, infectious disease control, environmental protection and sanitation, disaster and health emergency preparedness and response, and occupational health, among others. (World Health Organization 2020) Activities that society undertakes to ensure the conditions in which people can be healthy. These include organized community efforts to prevent, identify, and counter threats to the health of the public. (Turnock 2012)

Gender Development Index

Ratio of female to male HDI values. See Technical note 3 at http://hdr.undp.org for details on how the Gender Development Index is calculated. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Health Policy

Social policy concerned with the process whereby public health agencies evaluate and determine health needs and the best ways to address them, including the identification of appropriate resources and funding mechanisms. (Turnock 2012) A formal statement or procedure within institutions (notably government), which defines priorities and the parameters for action in response to health needs, available resources and other political pressures. (World Health Organization 2003). A statement designed specifically to promote health or a desired health outcome, or those not explicitly about health but acknowledged to have a health impact (e.g., education, transportation, and economic policy). (Kaiser Family Foundation 2015)

Human Capital

The collective skills, knowledge and other intangible assets of individuals that can be used to create economic value for individuals, their employers or their community. (World Health Organization 2020) Human Development Index (HDI) A composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living. See Technical note 1 at http://hdr.undp.org/en for details on how the HDI is calculated. (United Nations Development Programme 2019)

Gender

The economic, social, political, and cultural attributes, constraints and opportunities associated with being a woman or a man. The social definitions of what it means to be a woman or a man vary among cultures and change over time. Gender is a sociocultural expression of particular characteristics and roles that are associated with certain groups of people with reference to their sex and sexuality. (Population Reference Bureau 2019)

Universal Health Coverage

The goal of universal health coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering financial hardship when paying for them. This requires: a strong, efficient, well-run health system a system for financing health services, access to essential medicines and technologies, and a sufficient capacity of well-trained, motivated health workers. (World Health Organization 2020)

Population Health

The health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group. Crucial to the concept of population health is the idea that most cases in a population come from individuals with an average level of exposure (rather than high-risk groups). A small change at a population level yields a greater impact on population health and well-being than an intervention on high-risk groups. (World Health Organization 2020)

Distributional Effects

The manner in which the costs and benefits of a strategy affect different groups of people based on various demographics, geographic location and other descriptive factors. (Turnock 2012)

Morbidity

The number of cases of an illness, injury or condition within a given time, usually one year. It is also the ratio of sick persons to well persons in a defined population. (European Commission 2007)

Disease Prevention

The process of preventing the occurrence of disease or arresting its progress and reducing its consequences once established. Primary prevention is directed towards preventing the initial occurrence of a disorder. Secondary and tertiary prevention seek to arrest or retard existing disease and its effects through early detection and appropriate treatment, or to reduce the occurrence of relapses and the establishment of chronic conditions. (European Commission 2007)

Mortality

The proportion of deaths in a defined population. (European Commission 2007)

Social Protection

Transfers to households, either in cash or in kind, intended to ensure basic income security and provide relief from the financial burden of several risks and needs, including disability, sickness/health care, old age, bereavement, caring responsibilities, unemployment and housing. (World Health Organization 2020)