Publications WHO-Europe: Embedding a cultural contexts of health approach across the WHO European Region (2018)

In 2015, the WHO Regional Office for Europe pioneered a transformative initiative acknowledging the role and significance of cultural contexts (including value systems, traditions and beliefs) in shaping health outcomes. The cultural contexts of health and well-being (CCH) project places cultural contexts at the heart of achieving better health outcomes for all. Supported by an expert group, the Regional Office has made considerable steps in clarifying key CCH concepts and supporting CCH research and analysis. The fourth meeting of the expert group, held in April 2018 at the Wellcome Trust headquarters in London, United Kingdom, was convened to take stock of existing progress and to reflect on the future strategic direction of the CCH project, focusing in particular on its stated aim to break new ground practically as well as conceptually. This report outlines recommendations made at the fourth meeting of the expert group.