Asia Pacific Journal of Pediatric and Child Health

Abstract Ref Number = APCP182

Invited Speakers

Plenary APCP: Reducing Inequalities in Asia Pacific, Together is Better

Aman Bhakti Pulungan Child Health Department, CiptoMangunkusumo Hospital Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia Indonesian Pediatric Society Asia Pacific Pediatric Association

The Asia Pacific region consists of 48 countries and hosts the world’s most populous countries, including China, India, and Indonesia. With heterogeneous socioeconomic conditions, health inequities are easy to observe yet challenging to overcome. According to Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), social determinants of health refer to the complex, integrated, and overlapping social structures and economic systems responsible for most health inequities. Issues on socials determinants were addressed in the Asia Pacific Pediatric Association (APPA) 2018 Strategic Planning Meeting where priority areas were proposed, which included first 1000 days of life, tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases, adolescent health, burden of diseases and registry, research and publication, as well as position statement from APPA. Sets of data about social determinants need to be built to address current adolescent and child health issues in Asia Pacific, a few are political stability, national priorities, economic status, education, norms and values, natural disasters, community involvement, and internet use.Low economic status has direct impacts to health, such as lack of food, low utilization or poor quality of healthcare facilities, and reduced opportunities to go to further education. This does not apply only in early childhood, but also adolescence. Factors of education, employment, and spousal education difference are associated with the use of antenatal care, institutional delivery, and postnatal care services. School remains an important setting for community nutrition education programs, especially for female adolescents. Educated mothers have better understanding of health, have lower impact on child mortality, and have better child development outcomes. One of the biggest concerns for adolescent health is that underage marriage is accepted by norms; the law in Indonesia permits 16 years old females to get married, despite reports of high-riskteenage pregnancy. Countries in the Asia Pacific, such as China, India, and Indonesia rank the highest in Internet users. This creates opportunities to build knowledge and health information through mobile applications. Rather than being seen as obstacles, social determinants are to be carefully considered and incorporated into health care programs.

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