Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: Neurology and povertyFarrah J. Mateen, MD Few people in the world today are rich; the vast majority, 86% of the global population, live in the developing world, in countries that are classified as low or middle income. 1 The most recent data on extreme poverty suggest that nearly a billion people, spread over many continents, live on less than one dollar per day. 2 It is in low and middle income (LAMI) countries where most cases of neurologic disease occur, including stroke, epilepsy, primary headache disorders, and Alzheimer disease, 3 and in these countries neurologic disease is studied little if at all.The public health challenges for neurologic disorders in LAMI countries are multiple.Among the poor, there is special consideration of the 1) overall burden of neurologic disease, 2) lack of access to essential medications, 3) paucity of epidemiologic research available, 4) reduced ratio of practitioners in LAMI countries, 5) double burden of communicable and noncommunicable disease, and 6) stigma.At every level of society, there is a need for more education, in rich countries as well as poor ones.Health care workers, students, governments, teachers, and members of the general public all have important roles to play.
Source: Neurology
Author: Farrah J. Mateen
Institution: Mayo Clinic
Language: English
Topic: Global Health and Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2030124513