Critical Perspectives in Public Health

Critical Perspectives in Public Health Edited by Judith Green and Ronald Labonte Critical Perspectives in Public Health explores the concept of 'critical' public health, at a point when many of its core concerns appear to have moved to the mainstream of health policy. Issues such as addressing health inequalities and their socioeconomic determinants, and the inclusion of public voices in policy-making, are now emerging as key policy aims for health systems across Europe and North America. Combining analytical introductory chapters, edited versions of influential articles from the journal Critical Public Health and specially commissioned review articles, this volume examines the contemporary roles of 'critical voices' in public health research and practice from a range of disciplines and contexts. The book covers many of the pressing concerns for public health practitioners and researchers including: - the implications of new genetic technologies for public health - the impact of globalisation on local practice - the politics of citizen participation in health programmes - the impact of car-centred transport systems on health - the ethics of evaluation methods and the persistence of health inequalities. Critical Perspectives in Public Health is organised into sections covering four key themes in public health: social inequalities; evidence for practice; globalisation and technologies, and the environment. With contributions from a range of countries including the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and South Africa, it provides an accessible overview for students, practitioners and researchers in public health, health promotion, health policy and related fields. Judith Green is reader in sociology of health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. Her research interests include the sociology of accidents, the organisation of health care and public understanding of health. Ronald Labontè is Canada Research Chair in Globalization and Health Equity at the University of Ottawa, Canada. Prior to joining academia, he worked for twenty five years in health promotion and community health development. Sociology / HealthLabontè, Ronald is the author of 'Critical Perspectives in Public Health ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780415409520 and ISBN 0415409527.