The need to redefine the practice of health promotion in the United Kingdom

Author(s): Sullivan, M.

Journal/Book: Health Policy. 1998; 44: Customer Relations Manager, Bay 15, Shannon Industrial, Estate Co, Clare, Ireland. Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd. 19-30.

Abstract: It is argued that since the late 1970s the practice of health promotion within the UK has become, at least in part, bound up with the ideological bias of Conservative political thinking. The shift in political thought that occurred with the advent of Thatcherism, a shift characterised by individualism as opposed to collectivism and consensus politics of earlier decades, has heralded a belief in the paramount importance of the responsibility of the individual for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This strategy fails to consider the social, cultural, and economic context within which individuals find themselves over which little or no control can be exercised. A politicisation of the concept of health promotion has thus taken place which has placed the emphasis on the over-riding responsibility of the individual for his or her health. Such a selective approach to health is inefficient. It is further argued that a purely structuralist perspective, one that negates the influence of the individual, is equally inefficient. If the new Labour administration is to promote the population's health to any more effective manner it must be recognised that while the individual does have a distinct role to play in his or her own health, that individual must also be considered within his or her social, cultural and economic context. An holistic approach to promoting the health of the population must be multi-factorial acknowledging the influence of social, cultural, economic and medical factors, as well as the role of the individual.

Note: Article Midha A, Univ Wales Coll Med, Welsh Combined Ctr Publ Hlth, Heath Pk, Cardiff CF4 4XN, S Glam, WALES

Keyword(s): health promotion; United Kingdom; politicisation; SMOKING; RISK

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