Social policy and planning in Cuba: The case of public health and lessons learned for United States urban communities

This thesis looks at social policy and planning in Cuba; more specifically, at how public health in Cuba is organized and delivered. By examining the policy and planning of public health in Cuba there may be opportunities to learn from approaches that Cuba has taken in improving community health. These approaches could reveal elements that can be valuable for other nations. In this report, the author examines the lessons that can be derived from the Cuban model of public health and applied to U.S. urban communities. Some of the areas that are investigated include: the organization and delivery of public health in Cuba; the context of U.S. health policies; community participation and community development as it relates to health; and the strengths and challenges to the Cuban model. The research is based on a literature review on community health issues and interviews with key informants. The report concludes with a discussion and conclusion section that outlines key points to consider in thinking about improving U.S. community healthcare.