PAJPH Special Issue - Equity in health systems

The Latin America and Caribbean region has experienced remarkable progress in terms of economic development and health outcomes, enjoying a relatively good position in the developing world context. Unfortunately, this apparent privileged position in terms of accomplishments is based on regional averages that hide troubling and persistent inequalities among and within the countries. 

The studies comprising this special issue include a methodological article for measuring income-related inequalities in health outcomes and health care utilization and assessing possible determinants over time in six countries: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru. These studies provide important evidence to inform policies on the evolution of income-related inequality in health outcomes and health services utilization/access in these countries’ health systems.