SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and Intersections with Other SDGs
11.2 Understanding the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals and key features of SDG 3
This section explains that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global framework designed by the United Nations to advance health, development and human wellbeing worldwide. There are 17 SDGs (denoted as ) with a total of 169 targets (denoted as targets) to be achieved by the year . The SDGs were developed through a collaborative process involving all United Nations member states, non-governmental organisations and people around the world, and were introduced in 2016. An important principle is that no single goal is more important than another; the goals are interconnected and complementary. The SDGs aim to create a comprehensive, global plan to improve health and development outcomes and to be pursued collectively rather than in isolation. The section additionally emphasizes the importance of understanding SDGs not only as a list of aims but as an integrated system where progress in one area supports progress in others.
11.2 Understanding the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals and key features of SDG 3
SDG 3, Good Health and Well-being, is central to the global health and development agenda. The SDGs are designed to work together to achieve broad outcomes such as ending extreme poverty and hunger, addressing diseases and promoting wellbeing, empowering women and girls, reducing inequalities, building peaceful and inclusive societies, and protecting human rights. The interdependence among goals is a recurring theme throughout this unit, with SDG 3 both contributing to and benefiting from progress across other SDGs (SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 6, SDG 12).
11.2: Key knowledge and skills
Key knowledge includes understanding what the SDGs are, who developed them, and why they matter for global health and human development. The key skill is to discuss why the SDGs are important for global health and human development and to explain how the SDGs function as an integrated framework rather than as isolated targets. This requires recognizing the ways in which SDG 3 interacts with the other goals to reduce poverty, improve nutrition, provide quality education, advance gender equality, ensure clean water and sanitation, promote sustainable consumption and production, and tackle climate change and global health risks.
11.2 – The Sustainable Development Goals: Key points to know
There are 17 SDGs, forming a global agenda introduced in 2016 with 169 targets to be achieved by 2030. The SDGs are Universal and indivisible; no single goal is more important than another, and the 17 goals connect and reinforce one another. The outcomes sought include ending extreme poverty and hunger, addressing disease and promoting health and wellbeing, empowering women and girls, reducing inequalities, building peaceful and inclusive societies, and protecting human rights. SDG 3 (Good health and wellbeing) is the central focus of this topic but its achievement relies on progress in SDGs such as SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 2 (Zero hunger), SDG 4 (Quality education), SDG 5 (Gender equality), SDG 6 (Clean water and sanitation), and SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production).
11.3 Key features of SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing
SDG 3 is defined as ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.’ Its key features are structured around two types of targets: outcome targets (health outcomes to be achieved) and action targets (policies and services required to achieve those outcomes). The goal envisions good health and wellbeing for everyone at every life stage, addressing major causes of morbidity and mortality, and improving access to health services and medicines. The key knowledge underpins understanding the individual features of SDG 3 and recognizing that some targets are actions (what to do) and others are outcomes (what to achieve).
11.3 – Key features of SDG 3: Outcome targets vs. action targets
Outcome targets include: reducing maternal mortality to fewer than deaths per live births; ending preventable neonatal and under‑5 deaths (neonatal mortality to live births; under-5 mortality to ); ending epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and combatting hepatitis and other communicable diseases; reducing premature mortality from non‑communicable diseases by one‑third; strengthening universal health coverage and access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines; reducing deaths and illness from hazardous chemicals and pollution; implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; investing in vaccines and medicines; increasing investment in healthcare services and qualified staff; and building capacity for early warning, risk reduction and health risk management.
Action targets include: achieving universal health coverage (including essential health services and medicines); ending epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and other communicable diseases; expanding access to contraception and sexual and reproductive health services; improving road safety; expanding universal health coverage and access to essential medicines; strengthening tobacco control; supporting vaccine and medicine R&D; increasing healthcare workforce; building capacity for early warning and risk management. A practical way of organizing this is to categorize targets as actions vs. health outcomes and to see how actions support outcomes.
11.3 – Practice questions related to SDG 3
A typical practice item asks students to outline three targets of SDG 3 and to explain how actions lead to outcomes. Example targets include: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5; Reduce premature mortality from non‑communicable diseases; Achieve universal health coverage; End epidemics of AIDS, TB, malaria and NTDs; Reduce road traffic deaths; Strengthen reproductive health services; Increase investment in healthcare services; Strengthen health risk management. Another common item asks to explain the difference between the actions needed to achieve SDG 3 and the health outcomes themselves, clarifying that actions are the means to reach the outcomes.
11.4 SDG 3: Key feature of maternal and child health and wellbeing
This section focuses on maternal and child health as a central feature of SDG 3. It covers the meaning and causes of maternal mortality, the causes of death among newborns and children under five, and why reducing maternal mortality and child deaths is a key feature. It also discusses actions to reduce maternal mortality and child deaths, with emphasis on antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, postpartum care, contraception and family planning, and spacing of births.
11.4 – Maternal mortality and child health: key feature and data
Maternal mortality is the number of mothers who die due to pregnancy and childbirth complications. A key statistic often cited is that around women die daily from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes, roughly one death every two minutes. Almost 95 ext{%} of maternal deaths occur in low‑ and middle‑income countries (with about 70 ext{%} in low‑income countries). Globally, about 84 ext{%} of births are attended by skilled birth attendants between 2015–2021. Approximately half of all pregnant women have access to the recommended four antenatal visits. Adolescent pregnancy remains high in sub‑Saharan Africa. Malnutrition increases maternal mortality, with iron‑deficiency anaemia contributing to about 20 ext{%} of maternal deaths. The content emphasizes that holistic care around pregnancy—antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, postpartum care, contraception, and universal health coverage—is essential to reduce maternal mortality and neonatal/child deaths.
11.4 – SDG 3 key feature: Action and outcome links in maternal health
A practical framework given in the material distinguishes actions that reduce maternal mortality (e.g., access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services; astute antenatal monitoring; skilled birth attendance; postpartum care; contraception access) from outcomes (e.g., reduced maternal mortality; reduced neonatal mortality; reduced under-5 mortality). The material provides examples of how interventions (e.g., four antenatal visits, skilled birth attendance, hospital births) reduce the risk of infections and death, and how postpartum care and family planning spacing contribute to healthier mothers and babies.
11.4 – Detailed actions to reduce maternal mortality and newborn/child deaths
Key actions include universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare (antenatal care, birth with skilled attendants), postpartum care, contraception and family planning to space births, safe breastfeeding, access to nutritious food and clean water, immunisation, universal health coverage, and investment in healthcare workers. The outcomes linked to these actions include reduced maternal mortality, reduced neonatal and under-5 mortality, and reduced deaths from infectious diseases and complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The material also notes that adolescent pregnancy heightens maternal mortality risk due to ongoing body development and higher rates of complications; universal health coverage, blood pressure monitoring, HIV treatment, tetanus immunisation, and other preventive measures contribute to health security for mothers and babies.
11.4 – Adolescent pregnancy and pregnancy-related risk factors
Adolescent pregnancy is associated with higher maternal mortality; pregnancy during adolescence increases risk because bodies are still developing, and pregnancy complications are more likely. Monitoring maternal blood pressure (to prevent eclampsia/pre-eclampsia), HIV treatment when needed, tetanus immunisation, and immunisation in general help to protect both mother and child and to lower mortality risk. Access to contraception and family planning supports spacing births, allowing mothers and infants to survive and remain healthy.
11.3/11.4 – Practice questions and examples
Practice questions ask students to identify two SDG 3 targets and explain how they could help address SDG 1 (No Poverty) or SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), or how universal health coverage supports maternal and child outcomes. Sample answers illustrate how reducing maternal mortality can enable more women to work and support families, how universal health coverage reduces financial stress and supports access to nutrition and healthcare, and how immunisation and healthcare access reduce child mortality, thereby contributing to broader development outcomes.
11.5 – SDG 3: Key feature of communicable diseases
SDG 3 includes a major focus on ending epidemics of communicable diseases: AIDS (HIV/AIDS), tuberculosis (TB), malaria, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), and hepatitis. The material presents the nature of each disease, transmission routes, and major control strategies: for HIV/AIDS, transmission via bodily fluids and mother-to-child transmission; the lack of a cure but the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to delay progression and reduce transmission (ART is a drug cocktail typically consisting of three or more medications); HIV prevention and diagnosis expansion; the importance of universal access to ART and diagnostics. TB is a major cause of death and is prevented and treated through early detection, vaccination (BCG), universal health care, and improved water/sanitation; TB is more dangerous in people living with HIV. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes; vector control (mosquito nets treated with insecticide, indoor residual spraying), antimalarial medicines, and ACT (artemisinin-based combination therapy) treatment are central. The section also notes global epidemiology: malaria deaths rose during COVID-19 due to reduced access to care; malaria remains endemic in many countries with the highest burden in Africa. NTDs include a broad group of 20 diseases; they thrive in poor communities with limited water/sanitation access. Endemic diseases include schistosomiasis and trachoma; control requires vector control, clean water, sanitation, and mass drug administration where possible. Hepatitis is caused by five main viruses (A, B, C, D, E) with varying transmission modes. Globally, hepatitis causes over a million deaths annually, and vaccination (especially hepatitis B) and safe blood practices are critical, along with universal health coverage for testing and treatment.
11.5 – End epidemics: Why ending AIDS, TB, malaria and NTDs is central to SDG 3
Ending epidemics reduces child mortality, improves maternal health, and strengthens human development overall. The material outlines specific actions for each disease: universal health coverage for testing and ART for HIV; TB detection, vaccination, and drug development for drug-resistant TB; malaria prevention (vector control, nets, indoor spraying, treatment, vaccines in development); vaccination, water/sanitation, and hygiene for NTDs; hepatitis prevention and control via vaccination, safe medical practices, screening, and safe blood supply. The section also emphasizes actions to end these epidemics: reduce barriers to discrimination in HIV/AIDS care; increase condom access; promote gender equality; improve maternal and child health to reduce transmission and vulnerability; and fund research in vaccines and medicines.
11.5 – Malaria: Burden and control measures
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It disproportionately affects young children and pregnant women. Transmission control includes the use of insecticide-treated nets, indoor residual spraying, antimalarial medicines, and environmental management to remove mosquito breeding sites. If diagnosed early, malaria can be treated effectively with ACT. Global deaths from malaria were around in 2021, with most deaths in children under five and ongoing endemic status in many countries. Achieving malaria elimination requires sustained vector control, improved access to diagnosis and treatment, and continued research for vaccines and new medicines.
11.5 – Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and hepatitis
NTDs are a group of 20 diseases that thrive in the world's poorest communities with limited access to clean water and sanitation. They include schistosomiasis, trachoma and others. They cause significant morbidity and disability and can impact schooling and productivity. Control requires vector control, safe water and sanitation, mass drug administration, veterinary public health measures, and water/soil remediation. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by viral infection with types A, B, C, D and E. Despite improvements, hepatitis causes more than one million deaths each year; hepatitis B is responsible for the majority of deaths globally. Control relies on vaccination, blood safety and safe healthcare practices, along with universal health coverage to ensure testing and treatment access.
11.5 – How SDG 3 features connect to other SDGs in practice
The material illustrates how interventions to end epidemics and improve maternal/child health rely on broader development actions, including access to clean water (SDG 6), nutrition and food security (SDG 2), poverty reduction (SDG 1), quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), sustainable production (SDG 12), and improved health infrastructure. The cross-cutting conclusion is that health outcomes are profoundly shaped by social, economic and environmental factors, and improvements in health depend on coordinated action across multiple SDGs.
11.6SDG 3: Key feature of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
This section highlights the major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that account for the majority of global deaths: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, respiratory diseases, and diabetes (including diabetic kidney disease). These four conditions account for roughly 74 ext{%} of global deaths. While NCDs were historically considered a concern primarily for high-income countries, about 85 ext{%} of the burden now falls on low- and middle-income countries. The section explains why reducing premature mortality from NCDs is essential and discusses risk factors including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, and air pollution. It notes that more than deaths per year are attributable to tobacco, and more than deaths are due to passive smoking. The economic costs are substantial, with some countries spending up to 15 ext{%} of total health budgets on diabetes treatment. The global rise in obesity is a key driver of the growing NCD burden in all income groups.
11.6 – Why reducing premature mortality from NCDs is a key feature
The rationale centers on the high global burden of NCDs and the fact that risk factors for these diseases—tobacco, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, alcohol use, and air pollution—are preventable. Low‑ and middle‑income countries face greater difficulties in preventing and controlling NCDs due to resource constraints yet experience a rising NCD burden as infectious diseases decline. The section emphasizes the importance of policy measures to address risk factors, including the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), taxation on tobacco and alcohol, food labeling, and promoting physical activity in schools and workplaces. It also stresses the need for universal health coverage and affordable essential medicines and vaccines to treat NCDs and mental health issues.
11.6 – Action priorities for reducing NCDs and protecting mental health
Proposed actions include: increasing funding for universal health coverage and essential medicines; prioritizing prevention and control of NCDs in all countries, especially LMICs; implementing the WHO FCTC; placing taxes on alcohol and tobacco; adopting clear food labeling; promoting regular physical activity in schools and workplaces; taxing sugar-sweetened beverages and restricting their marketing; addressing mental health through dedicated funding, services and anti‑discrimination policies; and ensuring access to mental health services and professionals. The notes also cover the importance of promoting mental health and wellbeing and addressing social determinants such as violence, trauma, and poverty, given their links to mental health outcomes and broader development outcomes.
11.7 The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 1 (No Poverty)
This section explains how SDG 3 and SDG 1 intersect. Key features of SDG 1 include ending extreme poverty (poverty defined as living on less than per day), reducing the proportion of people living in poverty by half, implementing social protection systems, ensuring equitable access to essential resources, and building resilience to environmental shocks. The relationships focus on how ending extreme poverty enables people to access healthcare, nutrition, and education that reduce maternal mortality and under‑5 mortality, and how social protection reduces stress and supports health literacy and healthy life choices. Conversely, SDG 3 can promote SDG 1 by improving health and productivity, enabling people to work, earn, and lift families out of poverty; healthier mothers and children support better long‑term human capital and economic outcomes. Specific connections include: (i) reducing maternal mortality enables parents to invest in their children’s education and well‑being; (ii) universal health coverage reduces health‑related impoverishment; (iii) prevention and treatment of substance abuse supports productivity and economic stability; (iv) improved health enables higher school attendance and future earnings, contributing to poverty reduction. The materials include explicit example linkages showing how achieving SDG 3 supports SDG 1 through health improvements, education, and economic participation.
11.7 – Concrete links between SDG 1 features and SDG 3 outcomes
Key features of SDG 1 (no poverty) relate to maternal and child health in concrete ways: access to prenatal care and birth in health facilities reduces maternal mortality; clean water and nutrition support healthy pregnancies; access to vaccination reduces child deaths; universal health coverage improves access to essential medicines and prevents impoverishment from health costs. The discussion also notes how improved health status feeds back into SDG 1 by enabling children to attend school and families to maintain income through healthier livelihoods, thereby reducing poverty in the long term. The material emphasizes that reducing poverty strengthens the capacity to prevent and treat illnesses, invest in education, and improve child and maternal health, creating a virtuous cycle that reinforces both SDGs.
11.7 – Example connections: SDG 3 features supporting SDG 1
Examples include: (a) End maternal mortality helps families invest in children’s health and education, improving long-term productivity and reducing poverty; (b) End preventable deaths of newborns and children under five improves human capital formation, enabling future earnings and reducing the cycle of poverty; (c) Universal health coverage reduces catastrophic health expenditures that drive households into poverty; (d) Strengthening prevention and treatment of substance abuse supports workforce productivity and reduces poverty‑related stress. Conversely, SDG 1’s emphasis on social protection and poverty reduction helps ensure health systems have stable funding, enabling SDG 3 outcomes to be more sustainable.
11.7 – The two-way relationship: SDG 3 and SDG 1 key features and explanations
A table-like mapping shows specific links: End extreme poverty aligns with reducing maternal mortality and child deaths; implementing social protection links to reduced stress and greater health investment; preventing disease and enabling school attendance aligns with reducing poverty via better human capital; reducing premature mortality from NCDs allows people to work longer and contribute to the economy, supporting poverty reduction; ending epidemics (HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, NTDs) and improving health outcomes enables families to plan for the future and reduce poverty risk. The overall message is that progress in SDG 3 strengthens SDG 1 and vice versa, due to the reciprocal effects of health, education, income, and social protection on development outcomes.
11.8 The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 2
SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) aims to end hunger and malnutrition, improve food security, promote sustainable agriculture, and increase investment in agriculture and infrastructure. Hunger and malnutrition are linked to health outcomes and disease susceptibility; well-nourished populations have stronger immune systems, fewer infectious diseases, and lower child mortality. Micronutrient deficiencies (iron, iodine, vitamin A) contribute to maternal mortality and child health problems; exclusive breastfeeding for six months helps prevent malnutrition and supports child growth. SDG 2 also addresses overweight and obesity as forms of malnutrition, which can contribute to later non-communicable diseases. The interconnection with SDG 3 is two-way: reducing hunger and improving nutrition improves health outcomes (reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and reducing infectious disease susceptibility), while better health and reduced disease burden support agricultural productivity and food security. The material presents a set of explicit linkages: ending hunger helps immune function and vaccination efficacy, supporting disease control; reducing maternal mortality improves child health and nutrition, benefiting SDG 2; improving agricultural productivity supports economic capacity to fund health initiatives; reducing maternal and child illness frees households to invest in farming, education and development. The relationship also emphasizes that nutrition has direct effects on growth, cognitive development, and future productivity, which contributes to broader development outcomes.
11.8 – How SDG 2 can promote SDG 3
Examples include: (i) improved nutrition for pregnant women reduces risk of iron‑deficiency anaemia and maternal mortality, and supports the health of both mother and baby; (ii) reducing malnutrition lowers child vulnerability to infectious diseases and improves growth and survival; (iii) ending all forms of malnutrition contributes to resilience against disease outbreaks and supports school attendance, enabling knowledge gain and health literacy; (iv) addressing infectious diseases (e.g., malaria and diarrhoeal diseases) reduces health service costs and frees resources for agricultural development; (v) better nutrition and food security support economic productivity, enabling households to invest in healthcare and vaccination programs.
11.8 – How SDG 3 can promote SDG 2
Reducing maternal mortality and improving child health support families to invest in nutritious foods, which reduces stunting and malnutrition. Improved health outcomes also improve the capacity to work and generate income, which can be used to purchase food and improve farming productivity. Reducing epidemics (HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria) reduces health care burdens and allows households to focus resources on productive activities such as agriculture. The discussion highlights a bidirectional relationship: progress in SDG 2 improves health, and progress in SDG 3 supports nutrition and food security, enabling progress in SDG 2.
11.9 The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 4
SDG 4 focuses on quality education and universal access to education at all levels. Education is foundational for health: educated individuals are more likely to adopt healthier behaviours, seek care when needed, and understand health information. Education improves health literacy, which reduces the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB and other infections; educated mothers are more likely to immunise children and adopt safe reproductive health practices, contributing to lower maternal and child mortality. Education is also linked to economic development; higher education levels can lead to better employment opportunities and funding for universal health coverage. There is a reciprocal relationship: SDG 4 supports SDG 3 by improving health knowledge and prevention; SDG 3 supports SDG 4 by enabling healthier children and adults to participate in education and by contributing to a more capable workforce that supports educational infrastructure.
11.9 – How SDG 4 can promote SDG 3
Key linkages include: universal health coverage reaching wider populations enabling health education and disease prevention; educated mothers providing health literacy that reduces maternal and child mortality; improved educational attainment enabling better employment and income, allowing families to access healthcare and nutritious food; education in SDG 4 linked to sustainable development curricula, which supports disease prevention and health promotion; a skilled workforce supports the capacity to deliver health services and universal health coverage. The material emphasizes that education is the foundation for healthier populations and stronger health systems, reinforcing SDG 3 outcomes.
11.9 – The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 4: Key features and explanations
A table-like mapping shows that SDG 4’s focus on complete free, equitable, quality primary and secondary education and on improving literacy and numeracy supports SDG 3 by increasing health literacy and preventive knowledge; enabling safe sex education reduces epidemics such as AIDS and other infections. Increased skills for employment (SDG 4) provide governments with more revenue to invest in universal health coverage. Education also supports health‑related knowledge (e.g., vaccination and safe birth practices) that reduces maternal and child mortality. Conversely, SDG 3’s health improvements—reduced maternal mortality, lower infant mortality, and better health outcomes—can reduce school dropout and improve attendance, further enhancing human development and education outcomes. A critical note is that the linkages require careful articulation of specific SDG 3 features rather than broad statements like “quality education” alone; the connections must reference explicit health features like maternal health, child survival, and epidemics control.
11.10 The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
SDG 5 seeks to end discrimination and violence against women and girls, eliminate harmful practices (e.g., child marriage and female genital mutilation), ensure women’s participation in decision-making, and improve access to resources. The links with SDG 3 include: eliminating harmful practices reduces complications during pregnancy and the premature death of newborns; ending violence against women lowers the risk of HIV/AIDS transmission; full gender equality improves access to education, which improves health literacy and health outcomes; women’s control over sexual and reproductive health allows better prenatal care and safer births; increased participation in decision-making reduces stress and improves mental health and wellbeing; and access to information and technology empowers women to access health services and information. The section also discusses how SDG 3 can promote SDG 5 by enabling healthier pregnancies, better maternal outcomes, and improved social and economic participation of women, which in turn reinforces gender equality through improved health and wellbeing.
11.10 – The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 5: Key features and explanations
The key features mapping shows how achieving gender equality—ending discrimination, violence, harmful practices, and ensuring women’s participation and control over reproductive health—contributes to reductions in maternal mortality, improvements in child survival, and reduced epidemics (e.g., HIV/AIDS) by empowering women to access prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Conversely, improvements in SDG 3 (e.g., universal health coverage, safe pregnancy, and access to health services) support SDG 5 by enabling women to participate more fully in social, economic and political life and by reducing gender-based health disparities. The notes emphasize that progress in SDG 5 can promote SDG 3 through healthier pregnancies and reduced maternal mortality, and that progress in SDG 3 reinforces SDG 5 by removing barriers that prevent women from achieving full equality.
11.11 The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
SDG 6 focuses on universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, improving water quality, efficient use of water, water resource management, and protecting water-related ecosystems. The key links include: water quality improvements reduce diarrhoeal diseases and other infections; access to safe water reduces the burden of waterborne diseases on pregnant women and children, contributing to lower maternal mortality and child mortality; sanitized facilities improve maternal and neonatal health by reducing infection risk; access to safe water in households and schools supports attendance and education. The section notes that clean water and sanitation also reduce stress and improve mental health by removing the burden of water collection and sanitation concerns, particularly for women and girls.
11.11 – How SDG 3 can promote SDG 6
Improvements in SDG 3, such as universal health coverage and disease prevention, can support SDG 6 by enabling increased investments in water infrastructure, water quality monitoring, and sanitation services as part of health system strengthening. When health outcomes improve, governments are more able to allocate resources to public health infrastructure, including water and sanitation improvements. Conversely, SDG 6’s gains in reducing waterborne diseases and improving maternal and child health create a reinforcing loop that supports SDG 3 outcomes by reducing diarrhoeal diseases and other infections that contribute to child mortality and maternal morbidity.
11.12 The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
SDG 12 promotes sustainable consumption and production, including reducing waste and increasing recycling, improving management of chemicals and hazardous waste, reducing our material footprint, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. Links to SDG 3 include: safe management of chemicals and waste reduces exposure to pollutants that contribute to cancer and cardiovascular disease and reduces water and soil contamination that can cause health problems; reducing food waste supports nutrition and food security and helps prevent malnutrition, which is linked to poor health and growth outcomes; responsible management of chemicals reduces exposure to pollutants that affect pregnancy outcomes and child health; reducing pollution and improving environmental health contributes to better health and wellbeing and supports broader human development. Conversely, SDG 3 can promote SDG 12 by: healthier populations and more stable governance enabling investment in sustainable production; reduced epidemics and disease burden decrease demand on health systems and can shift resources toward sustainable practices; end-to-end health system improvements can align with sustainable supply chains and responsible consumption. The material emphasizes that actions under SDG 12 (e.g., reducing food waste, sustainable resource use, chemical waste management, and recycling) can significantly influence SDG 3 outcomes such as maternal mortality, U5MR, and the spread of communicable and non-communicable diseases through improved environmental health.
11.12 – The relationships between SDG 3 and SDG 12: Key features and explanations
The key features of SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and production) are connected to SDG 3 by showing how responsible consumption and waste management reduce environmental risk factors for health and by supporting food security and safe water. The relationship to SDG 3 includes reductions in maternal mortality via cleaner water and safer environments; reductions in U5MR due to better nutrition and fewer disease exposures; and reductions in epidemics of HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other communicable diseases through safer water and improved environmental health. Conversely, SDG 3’s emphasis on universal health coverage and disease prevention can sustain sustainable production by enabling economies to invest in green technologies and safer industrial practices. The overall takeaway is that SDG 12 can promote SDG 3 through reducing environmental health risks and supporting healthier populations, while SDG 3 can promote SDG 12 by driving demand for sustainable practices and responsible production as part of health system strengthening and public protection.
11.12 – The practical takeaway and exam-style prompts
A recurring exam-style approach is to ask students to explain how progress in one SDG supports another. For example, explain how SDG 12’s reduction of waste and management of hazardous chemicals can help reduce maternal mortality and U5MR by improving water quality and reducing exposure to toxins. Another common prompt is to explain how SDG 3 can promote SDG 6 by improving access to safe water and sanitation in health facilities to reduce infections during childbirth. Students are asked to connect themes across SDGs with specific features rather than generic statements, and to illustrate the links with concrete examples or data points where possible. (Tip from the examination section notes that when describing relationships, you should refer to specific SDG features rather than generic “health and wellbeing.”)
Exam tips ( reiterated guidance )
The material emphasizes that when explaining the relationships between SDG 3 and other SDGs, you should reference specific features of the other goals (e.g., SDG 6’s safe water, SDG 4’s education, SDG 2’s nutrition) rather than just naming the goal. For example, to explain how ending preventable deaths of newborns and children under five relates to SDG 6, you should mention how access to clean water and sanitation reduces diarrhoeal diseases that cause child mortality. The guidance also recommends using explicit feature references from other SDGs to demonstrate interdependence in a nuanced way.
Practice questions and sample answers across SDGs
The course materials present a suite of practice questions across SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5 and 12, asking students to identify SDG features, explain linkages with SDG 3, or discuss how progress in one SDG supports health and development globally. Sample answers illustrate linking maternal mortality reductions to increased educational attainment and productivity, linking universal health coverage to poverty reduction, and describing how improvements in nutrition (SDG 2) reinforce health outcomes (SDG 3). The practice questions also include prompts for evaluating how progress in SDG 4 (Quality Education) relates to SDG 3 features such as ending epidemics, improving health literacy, and enabling universal health coverage.
Key terms to remember
The transcript includes a list of key terms that recur throughout the SDG 3 discussion, such as antenatal care, birth asphyxia, circular economy, indivisible, interdependent, material footprint, maternal mortality, microfinance, neonatal period, schistosomiasis, social protection measures, sustainable agriculture, trachoma, and tropical diseases. Understanding these terms helps in recognizing the concrete health and development mechanisms linked to SDG 3 and its relationships with other SDGs.