Global Health and Nursing: SDGs, UHC, and COVID-19 Impact

Global Health

A field of study, research, and practice that prioritizes improving health and health equity for all; emphasizes transnational health issues, determinants, and solutions; is interdisciplinary; and links population-level prevention with individual clinical care.

COVID-19's Impact on Life Expectancy

COVID-19 reversed over a decade of gains: global life expectancy at birth dropped from 72.5 years in 2020 to 71.4 years in 2021.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

A health system concept that aims to ensure all individuals have access to necessary health services without financial hardship.

Primary Health Care (PHC)

An approach to achieving universal health coverage that emphasizes essential health services accessible to all.

Shifting Burden of Disease

Before COVID-19, the global burden was shifting toward noncommunicable diseases (NCDs); COVID-19 changed that, with communicable diseases rising as causes of death in 2020-2021.

Communicable, Maternal, Neonatal, and Nutritional Diseases (CMNN)

Recent decades saw large declines in diseases like HIV/AIDS and TB due to public health interventions, but progress has stalled in areas like maternal mortality and child malnutrition.

Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)

NCDs cause the largest number of deaths globally, with cardiovascular diseases being the largest contributors.

Building Blocks of Health Systems

The essential components necessary for a health system to function effectively and provide quality health services.

Burden of Disease

A measure of the impact of diseases on a population, often expressed in terms of mortality and morbidity.

Global Action Plan

A coordinated effort by multilateral organizations to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goals.

Healthy Life Expectancy

The average number of years a person can expect to live in good health, which was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human Resources for Health

The workforce necessary to deliver health services, including nurses and midwives who play central roles in health systems.

Life Expectancy

The average number of years a person is expected to live based on current mortality rates.

Social Determinants of Health

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affect health outcomes.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A set of global goals established by the United Nations to address various global challenges, including health.

Financial Protection

The proportion of the population not pushed into catastrophic or impoverishing out-of-pocket spending due to health care costs.

Health Service Coverage

The proportion of the population with access to essential quality health services.

COVID-19 Pandemic

A global health crisis that significantly affected life expectancy and health equity worldwide.

Interprofessional Collaboration

Cooperation among various health professionals to improve health outcomes and service delivery.

Transnational Health Issues

Health challenges that cross national borders and require international cooperation to address.

Interagency Collaboration

Cooperation between different agencies to achieve common health goals.

Public Health Interventions

Strategies implemented to improve health outcomes and prevent diseases in populations.

Child Malnutrition

A significant health concern characterized by stunting, wasting, or overweight conditions in children.

Essential health services

16 essential health services grouped into four categories as tracer indicators.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

Cancers rose in absolute numbers; risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high BMI, ambient air pollution, and tobacco remain leading contributors.

Reproductive/maternal/newborn/child health (RMNCH)

One of the categories of essential health services.

Infectious disease services

Includes TB, HIV, immunization, and water/sanitation.

NCD services

Includes hypertension, diabetes, cancer screening, and tobacco control.

Service capacity/access

Includes basic hospital & health worker services, essential medicines, and health security.

Unintentional injuries

Includes falls, drowning, and transport injuries, causing a substantial number of deaths.

Vulnerable groups

Persons with disabilities, refugees, migrants, and the poor who often face limited access to care.

Health systems strengthening

Purposeful action to improve performance and embody quality, equity, efficiency, accountability, resilience, and sustainability.

Global maternal mortality ratio

Target to reduce to <70 per 100,000 by 2030.

Preventable deaths of newborns and children

Target to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5.

Epidemics of diseases

Target to end epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases.

Premature mortality from NCDs

Target to reduce by one third through prevention and treatment and promote mental health.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

Public-private partnership focused on vaccines; since 2000 helped immunize >760 million children.

Health services range

Includes health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

Global Financing Facility (GFF)

Multi-stakeholder partnership for women, children, adolescents; works with countries to mobilize financing; was active in 36 countries with plans to expand.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria

Invests ~US$4+ billion annually supporting programs in 100+ countries.

UNAIDS

Coordinates global HIV response; people-centered and rights-based.

UNDP

Supports governments to implement SDGs, addresses determinants of health in 100+ countries.

UNFPA

Sexual and reproductive health and population data; present in 150+ countries.

UNICEF

Child-focused programs in 190 countries.

Unitaid

Funds innovative solutions for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in low/middle income countries.

Global life expectancy

Fell in 2020 and 2021 (examples in chapter: 72.5 → 71.4 years).

NCDs

Represent the largest share of global deaths (cardiovascular diseases highest).

WHO Triple Billion goals

+1 billion UHC, +1 billion protected from health emergencies, +1 billion better health & well-being by 2025 (the chapter notes the world is off-track).

WHO's 16 essential service tracers

Grouped into 4 categories (RMNCH; infectious diseases; NCDs; service capacity/access).

World Bank Group

Major funder and knowledge partner for health; commits about US$3 billion annually in new health funding and manages large portfolios.

World Food Programme (WFP)

Leads emergency food assistance and nutrition programs; assists ~90 million people yearly.

World Health Organization (WHO)

Global public health leadership; hosts Global Action Plan Secretariat and sets targets (e.g., Triple Billion).

PHC

People Help Communities (remember core components: Policy, People, Care).

NURSE

For nurse roles in global health: Network (global actors), Understand social determinants, Read policy & evidence, Serve (primary care & community), Engage in advocacy.

Global Strategic Directions for Nursing & Midwifery (2021-2025)

Focuses on 4 strategic directions and associated policy priorities.

Education (SDNM)

Ensure graduates match/exceed health system demand; competency-based education; adequate faculty training.

Jobs (SDNM)

Create sustainable nursing/midwifery jobs; workforce planning; ethical management of international recruitment; attract & retain staff where needed.

Leadership (SDNM)

Increase nurses/midwives in senior positions; strengthen workforce governance; invest in leadership development.

Service delivery (SDNM)

Enable nurses/midwives to work to full scope; strengthen regulation; adapt workplaces for interdisciplinary teams.

Leading cause of death globally

NCDs (correct).

Common factors influencing global health issues

Poverty, Inequality, Environment, Socioeconomic conditions — All are true (1-4).

SDG 3 & UHC

Central: health services + financial protection = UHC.

Nurses/midwives

Essential: workforce expansion, regulation, education, leadership, and service delivery are priority areas (SDNM 2021-2025).