Understanding political priority development for public health issues in Turkey: lessons from tobacco control and road safety

Hoe C., Rodriguez D. C., Uzumcuoglu Y., Hyder A. A.

HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS, vol.17, 2019 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 17
  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/s12961-019-0412-7
  • Journal Name: HEALTH RESEARCH POLICY AND SYSTEMS
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Keywords: Agenda-setting, Health policy, Road safety, Tobacco control, Turkey, POLICY PROCESS, CHALLENGES, SUCCESSES, NETWORKS, CAPACITY, STATE
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Tobacco use and road traffic injuries are major public health problems in Turkey. During the last decade, the former issue received political priority in the country, while the latter did not despite the immense health and economic burden that road traffic injuries pose on the Turkish population. Political priority can facilitate the attainment of public health goals. Unfortunately, however, limited cross-case analyses exist to help us understand why it emerges for certain public health issues but fails to develop for others in low- and middle-income countries.