IV ISA Forum of Sociology (February 23-28, 2021)

179

Health Policy Reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Challenges of the Twenty-First Century

Abstract Submissions Closed

RC15 Sociology of Health (host committee)

Language: English

Session Type: Oral

Governments in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have developed health policies toward universal health care but these efforts have not yielded the desired results. The economic downturn from the 1980s forced most Africa governments to turn to the Bretton Woods Institutions for financial assistance, and in the process, initiated policy reforms that were underpinned by a Western neo-liberal ideology. The result has been uneven successes with regards to accessibility, equity, and quality of service. While results are not uniform in specific terms, a general pattern of low performance may be discernible, with lessons to be learned. In this session, we invite scholars to engage in a discussion on these health challenges despite the significant progress made in the democratic process of most African countries since the turn of the century. The session will examine the evolution of health policies in SSA and an evaluation of the progress made to date. The session will be guided by five overarching questions:

1. What political and economic conditions necessitated health reforms in SSA?
2. How have health reforms addressed issues of health quality, accessibility, and equity?
3. In what ways have reforms impacted health conditions of citizens?
4. What lessons can we learn from historical and contemporary challenges? and
5. What appropriate health policy can be proffered towards achieving universal health coverage in SSA?

We request the submission of abstracts, which may be theoretical or based on empirical study of specific countries in the region, that address any of the above questions.