Social Dimensions of Public Health Activism: Global, National and Local Perspectives

Public health activism is an important resource of the health care system, manifesting itself both in the forms of public associations and movements formed around health issues and in various forms of self-organization. Public health activism refers to any bottom-up attempt to redistribute material, institutional, symbolic resources, power, and responsibility in public health, using non-governmental means to achieve its goals. On the one hand, public health activism can pose a challenge to the existing order, which is seen as negatively affecting health or does not ensure fair and equitable access to health services; on the other hand, public health activism can be aimed at a productive joint solution of health problems, filling gaps in health care services. Research on health activism is important for understanding the complex and multilevel nature of interactions in public health and health care, the role of social factors in changing health behavior, and the public potential for solving health problems.The topics to be discussed within this session include:

1. Theoretical models of public health activism; 2. Health activism and informal health care practices; 3. Health activism during the COVID-19 pandemic; 4. Social activism as advocacy and empowerment for vulnerable populations (people living with HIV, people with mental illness and others); 5. Diffusion of best practices in health activism; 6. Health activism in the time of global resurgent authoritarianism.

The possible topics of discussion are not limited to this list. Submitted papers can present theoretical approaches, empirically based research, and practical experiences concerning public health activism.